Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 23
एवमुक्त्वा तु ताः सर्वा विश्वरूपो महेश्वरः । क्रीडनार्थं गतस्तत्र बटुवेषधरः पृथक्
evamuktvā tu tāḥ sarvā viśvarūpo maheśvaraḥ | krīḍanārthaṃ gatastatra baṭuveṣadharaḥ pṛthak
Après avoir ainsi parlé à toutes, Maheśvara —à la forme universelle— s’y rendit à part, revêtant l’apparence d’un jeune brahmacārin, pour le jeu divin.
Narrator (Purāṇic narrative voice within Revā Khaṇḍa)
Tirtha: Bhāragrāma (līlā-sthala)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Maheśvara, described as Viśvarūpa, steps aside and re-enters as a lone young brahmacārin—simple clothes, staff, water-pot—yet with subtle cosmic hints (aura, faint third eye, serpentine ornament).
FAQs
The Divine may appear in humble forms to test sincerity; dharma is proved through conduct, not status.
The Revā/Narmadā sacred landscape, where Śiva’s līlā unfolds to teach dharma.
No specific rite is prescribed here; the verse frames a līlā that will evaluate hospitality and truthfulness.