Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 182
स्कंद उवाच । किमिंद्रः सर्वलोकानां करोतीह सुरोत्तमाः । कथं देवगणांश्चैव पाति नित्यं सुरेश्वरः
skaṃda uvāca | kimiṃdraḥ sarvalokānāṃ karotīha surottamāḥ | kathaṃ devagaṇāṃścaiva pāti nityaṃ sureśvaraḥ
Skanda said: “O best among the gods, what indeed does Indra accomplish here for all the worlds? And how does the Lord of the Devas continually protect the hosts of gods?”
Skanda
Listener: Deva-gaṇa (the gods)
Scene: Skanda (as speaker) turns toward the assembled devas, hand raised in a calm questioning gesture; devas attentive, the atmosphere shifts from acclamation to instruction.
FAQs
Rightful authority is measured by protection and welfare of all beings, not by mere status.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; the focus is on Indra’s cosmic duty within the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa narrative.
None in this verse; it is a doctrinal question about divine governance and protection.