Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 150
ततो वधायाशु मुमोच तस्य वा आकृष्य कर्णांतमकुंठदीधितिम् । अथासुरः प्रेक्ष्य महास्त्रमापतद्विसृज्य मायां सहसा व्यवस्थितः
tato vadhāyāśu mumoca tasya vā ākṛṣya karṇāṃtamakuṃṭhadīdhitim | athāsuraḥ prekṣya mahāstramāpatadvisṛjya māyāṃ sahasā vyavasthitaḥ
Then, intent on slaying him, he swiftly released that great weapon, drawing it back to the ear, its radiance unblunted. Seeing the mighty missile rushing upon him, the Asura at once unleashed māyā—illusion—and took his stand.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative style)
Scene: Indra draws the bowstring to his ear and releases a blazing missile; the asura, seeing it rush, throws out a sudden veil of illusion—phantom forms, dark clouds, mirage-like duplicates—yet stands braced.
FAQs
Courage and steadiness are praised: when adharma resorts to māyā (deception), dharma stands firm and confronts it directly.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it is a martial episode within the Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa narrative.
None here—this verse focuses on battle action and the use of astras and māyā.