Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 15
स दृष्ट्वा कुष्ठसंयुक्तं पार्थिवः स्वं कलेवरम् । ततः स्वान्सेवकानाह समाहूय सुदुःखितः
sa dṛṣṭvā kuṣṭhasaṃyuktaṃ pārthivaḥ svaṃ kalevaram | tataḥ svānsevakānāha samāhūya suduḥkhitaḥ
Als der König seinen eigenen Leib vom Aussatz befallen sah, wurde er von tiefem Kummer überwältigt. Dann rief er seine Diener herbei, versammelte sie und sprach zu ihnen.
Sūta (narrative voice; king’s speech introduced)
Scene: The king looks upon his own body marked by kuṣṭha, grief-stricken; he calls his attendants close, preparing to announce a vow. The courtly setting feels suddenly fragile and quiet.
FAQs
Suffering becomes a turning point that impels one toward dharma, tapas, and refuge in sacred places and deities.
Śaṅkhatīrtha is the upcoming tīrtha in this episode (explicitly named later in the adhyāya).
No explicit rite is stated here; it sets up the king’s resolve for tapas and pilgrimage.