Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 1
अगस्त्य उवाच । बर्हियान समाचक्ष्व हरिकेशसमुद्भवम् । कोसौ कस्य सुतः श्रीमान्कीदृगस्य तपो महत्
agastya uvāca | barhiyāna samācakṣva harikeśasamudbhavam | kosau kasya sutaḥ śrīmānkīdṛgasya tapo mahat
Agastya dit : Ô Barhiyāna, raconte-moi celui qui est né de Harikeśa. Qui est cet être illustre, de qui est-il le fils, et quelle est la nature de sa grande austérité ?
Agastya
Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (contextual)
Scene: Forest hermitage: Agastya sits composed with matted hair and water-pot; Barhiyāna stands respectfully. The scene signals the start of a new account about a sage born from Harikeśa.
FAQs
Purāṇic teaching often begins with inquiry: sincere questioning about lineage and tapas opens the doorway to dharma and sacred history.
The verse serves as a narrative transition within Kāśī-khaṇḍa; the wider section continues the glorification of Kāśī.
None; it is an introductory question initiating a new account.