Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 98
नृत्यंति पुरतः शम्भोरुर्वश्याद्याः सुरस्त्रियः । वशिष्ठः कश्यपः कण्वो विश्वामित्रो महा तपाः
nṛtyaṃti purataḥ śambhorurvaśyādyāḥ surastriyaḥ | vaśiṣṭhaḥ kaśyapaḥ kaṇvo viśvāmitro mahā tapāḥ
Devant Śambhu, les femmes célestes, à commencer par Urvaśī, dansent ; et s’y tiennent les grands ascètes : Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, Kaṇva et Viśvāmitra.
Deductive: Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to sages
Scene: Urvāśī and other apsarases dance in a semicircle before Śambhu; behind them stand Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, Kaṇva, Viśvāmitra—ascetics with matted hair and deer-skins, witnessing the sacred performance with composed faces.
FAQs
Both austerity (ṛṣis) and refined devotion (dance and art) are valid offerings when centered on Śiva.
No particular tīrtha is named; it is a court-scene of Śiva’s presence.
None; it implies devotional service through nṛtya (sacred dance) and reverence by sages.