Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 21
एवं स्तुतो महादेवः सोमराजेन पाण्डव । तुष्टस्तस्य नृपश्रेष्ठ शिवया शङ्करोऽब्रवीत्
evaṃ stuto mahādevaḥ somarājena pāṇḍava | tuṣṭastasya nṛpaśreṣṭha śivayā śaṅkaro'bravīt
Thus praised by King Soma, O Pāṇḍava, Mahādeva was pleased. Then Śaṅkara—together with Śivā (Umā)—spoke to that foremost of kings.
Narrator (addressing a Pāṇḍava as listener)
Listener: Pāṇḍava
Scene: After the hymn, Mahādeva appears pleased; Śaṅkara stands or sits with Umā beside him, turning toward Soma to speak, while the narrator addresses a Pāṇḍava listener.
FAQs
When the Lord is sincerely praised, divine grace manifests as a direct, compassionate response.
The surrounding Revā Khaṇḍa narrative situates the episode within a tīrtha-māhātmya stream connected to Soma’s purification.
No ritual injunction is given; the narrative highlights stuti as the cause of Śiva’s satisfaction.