Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 7
दृष्ट्वा लोप्त्रं तदग्रस्थं तमूचुर्मुनिपुंगवम् । मार्गेणानेन चायातो लोप्त्रहस्तो मलिम्लुचः । ब्रूहि शीघ्रं महाभाग केन मार्गेण निर्गतः
dṛṣṭvā loptraṃ tadagrasthaṃ tamūcurmunipuṃgavam | mārgeṇānena cāyāto loptrahasto malimlucaḥ | brūhi śīghraṃ mahābhāga kena mārgeṇa nirgataḥ
Als sie den Wasserkrug vor ihm stehen sahen, sprachen sie zu jenem Stier unter den Weisen: „Auf diesem Weg kam ein böser Räuber, den Krug in der Hand. Sage schnell, o Gesegneter: auf welchem Pfad ist er hinausgegangen?“
Sūta (narrating); pursuers speaking within the verse
Type: cave
Scene: Pursuers point toward the path and address the serene sage, gesturing at the water-pot placed before him, demanding the robber’s exit route.
FAQs
Social pressure can demand immediate answers, but dharma requires careful speech—especially for one observing a vow.
The incident unfolds at Viśvāmitrī Tīrtha, a ‘sat-tīrtha’ praised as greatly purifying.
No direct ritual is prescribed; the verse sets up the ethical conflict around speech, silence, and protecting life.