Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 23
अथ कश्चिद्द्विजो विद्वान्पुराणार्थस्य तत्त्ववित् । देवं निमन्त्रयामास द्विजरूपधरं शिवम्
atha kaściddvijo vidvānpurāṇārthasya tattvavit | devaṃ nimantrayāmāsa dvijarūpadharaṃ śivam
Alors un dvija savant, connaissant la véritable portée des Purāṇa, invita le Seigneur : Śiva, qui avait pris l’apparence d’un brāhmane.
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator within Revā Khaṇḍa context; traditionally Sūta in many recensions)
Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā) tīrtha setting (implied)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Pilgrim-audience/ṛṣis (implied)
Scene: A learned brāhmaṇa, holding a water-pot and kusa grass, respectfully invites a serene ascetic-brāhmaṇa who is actually Śiva in disguise; a riverine tīrtha landscape suggests Revā’s presence.
FAQs
Right understanding (tattva) leads to right conduct—honoring the divine even when it appears in ordinary guise.
The narrative belongs to the Revā Khaṇḍa milieu; the verse highlights dharma of invitation rather than a named tīrtha.
Atithi-sevā (inviting and honoring a worthy guest) is implied as a dharmic act.