Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 23
तत्त्वज्ञः कोपरश्चात्र त्वत्तः सत्यवतीसुत । भवता यत्प्रतिज्ञातं निश्चित्योक्षिप्यतर्जनीम्
tattvajñaḥ koparaścātra tvattaḥ satyavatīsuta | bhavatā yatpratijñātaṃ niścityokṣipyatarjanīm
« Ô fils de Satyavatī (Vyāsa), bien que tu sois connaisseur de la vérité, qui ici pourrait être plus courroucé que toi ? Ayant arrêté fermement ce que tu avais promis, tu levai l’index avec une sévérité appuyée. »
Skanda (deduced from Kāśī-khaṇḍa dialogue framework)
Tirtha: Kāśī (implied)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya sages (implied)
Scene: A venerable Vyāsa, eyes sharp with controlled wrath, raises his forefinger in emphasis while addressing a group of young brahmacārins; the setting hints at Kāśī’s sacred ambience—rudrākṣa, ash marks, and distant temple spires.
FAQs
True knowledge should culminate in firm dharmic resolve—vows are to be upheld with clarity and determination.
The immediate verse sets up the narrative; the broader passage moves toward Vārāṇasī (Kāśī) as the sanctifying destination.
No explicit ritual is prescribed here; the focus is on the seriousness of a vowed commitment (pratijñā).