Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 1
श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच । अथान्यत्सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि देवस्य चरितं महत् । श्रुतमात्रेण येनाशु सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
śrīmārkaṇḍeya uvāca | athānyatsampravakṣyāmi devasya caritaṃ mahat | śrutamātreṇa yenāśu sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate
Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya dit : «À présent, je vais raconter un autre grand acte du Seigneur ; rien qu’en l’entendant, on est promptement délivré de tous les péchés.»
Mārkaṇḍeya
Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira (implied by continuity of address in prior verses)
Scene: Sage Mārkaṇḍeya seated in an āśrama, beginning a new narration; attentive listeners gathered, with manuscripts and ritual fire nearby.
FAQs
Śravaṇa (devotional listening) to sacred Śaiva narratives is itself purifying and sin-destroying.
This opening verse introduces a new episode; the specific site emerges in the verses that follow.
Hearing the Lord’s carita (kathā-śravaṇa) is presented as a direct means of purification.