स्कंद उवाच । आकर्णय मुने वच्मि कथां श्रमनिवारिणीम् । यथा देवेन कथितां त्रिविष्टपसमुद्भवाम्
skaṃda uvāca | ākarṇaya mune vacmi kathāṃ śramanivāriṇīm | yathā devena kathitāṃ triviṣṭapasamudbhavām
Skanda dijo: Escucha, oh sabio; te diré el relato que disipa el cansancio, tal como lo pronunció el Señor: una narración nacida de Traiviṣṭapa, la morada celeste.
Skanda
Listener: Agastya (muni)
Scene: Skanda begins the narration, inviting the sage to listen; the atmosphere is soothing, as if the story itself dispels travel-weariness.
Purāṇic kathā is restorative and purifying; attentive listening connects the seeker to divine, heaven-rooted wisdom.
Kāśī is the overarching setting of Kāśīkhaṇḍa; this verse introduces a sub-narrative within its Mahātmya.
Śravaṇa—listen attentively to the kathā as the recommended engagement.