Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 36
मुंडी नग्नो मयूराणां पिच्छधारी महाव्रतः । प्रोवाच चेदं वचनं हाहा कष्टमतीव भोः
muṃḍī nagno mayūrāṇāṃ picchadhārī mahāvrataḥ | provāca cedaṃ vacanaṃ hāhā kaṣṭamatīva bhoḥ
La tête rasée, nu, paré de plumes de paon et observant un grand vœu, il prononça ces mots : «Hélas, hélas — c’est d’une douleur extrême, ô seigneur !»
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages
Scene: A stark ascetic—bald, nude, adorned with peacock feathers—steps into the ritual ground, raising his hands in lament, face contorted with grief as he addresses Barbarīka.
FAQs
External marks of austerity introduce a dharma-questioning voice, preparing for ethical reflection.
The dialogue unfolds in the same sacred locality where Barbarīka stands guard (regional māhātmya context).
A “mahā-vrata” is mentioned as an identity marker, but no specific observance is detailed in this verse.