Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 23
शिव उवाच । वाक्यं मे श्रृणु तन्वंगि श्रुत्वा तत्कर्तुमर्हसि । कासि कस्यासि तन्वंगि किमर्थमटनं वने । तत्कथ्यतां महाभागे याथातथ्यं सुमध्यमे
śiva uvāca | vākyaṃ me śrṛṇu tanvaṃgi śrutvā tatkartumarhasi | kāsi kasyāsi tanvaṃgi kimarthamaṭanaṃ vane | tatkathyatāṃ mahābhāge yāthātathyaṃ sumadhyame
Śiva sprach: „Höre meine Worte, du Schlankgliedrige; nachdem du sie gehört hast, sollst du entsprechend handeln. Wer bist du, und wessen bist du? Zu welchem Zweck wanderst du im Wald umher? O Glückselige mit schöner Taille, sage es mir wahrheitsgemäß, genau wie es ist.“
Śiva
Tirtha: Kedāra (dialogue locus)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śabarī (as addressed); also the narrative audience
Scene: Śiva stands or sits as a calm ascetic-lord, addressing a forest woman respectfully yet firmly; the woman listens with folded hands; the scene emphasizes inquiry, sincerity, and the gravity of speech.
FAQs
Truthful self-disclosure and purposeful living are framed as prerequisites for right action and guidance.
The verse is part of Kedārakhaṇḍa’s Himalayan setting; it does not directly praise a named tīrtha.
No ritual is prescribed; Śiva requests truthful explanation and readiness to act.