Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 4
तेनैवमुक्तस्तु महात्मना तदा प्रदर्शयध्वं मम ता यतः स्थिताः । पीत्वा सुराः सर्वमहं पुरस्तात्कृत्यं करिष्ये सुरभक्षणं हि
tenaivamuktastu mahātmanā tadā pradarśayadhvaṃ mama tā yataḥ sthitāḥ | pītvā surāḥ sarvamahaṃ purastātkṛtyaṃ kariṣye surabhakṣaṇaṃ hi
Thus addressed by that great-souled one, he then said: “Show me where those Waters are situated. After drinking them all, I shall next carry out what must be done—indeed, the consuming of the gods.”
Vāḍava (as the agent being instructed; reported speech within Īśvara’s narration)
Listener: Devī
Scene: A formidable figure (the ‘great-souled one’) speaks with grim certainty, demanding to be shown the waters; devas appear uneasy. In the background, a vast reservoir or subterranean confluence is hinted, emphasizing the scale of ‘all waters.’
FAQs
Even destructive power is portrayed as operating under instruction and sequence—first the ordained target, then the next duty.
Prabhāsakṣetra is the overarching setting; this verse is part of the mythic explanation supporting the māhātmya.
None; it is narrative dialogue about a cosmic act (drinking the waters).