Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 12
उवाच देवानेदेवेशः कस्माद्यूयमिहागताः । अहं हि पातकग्रस्तो ब्रह्महत्यापरिप्सुतः । अप्सु तिष्ठामि भो देवा एकाकी तपसान्वितः
uvāca devānedeveśaḥ kasmādyūyamihāgatāḥ | ahaṃ hi pātakagrasto brahmahatyāparipsutaḥ | apsu tiṣṭhāmi bho devā ekākī tapasānvitaḥ
Le Seigneur des dieux dit aux dieux : «Pourquoi êtes-vous venus ici ? Je suis saisi par le péché, poursuivi par la faute du meurtre d’un brahmane. Ô dieux, je demeure dans les eaux, seul, adonné aux austérités (tapas).»
Śakra (Indra / Deveśa)
Type: kund
Listener: Devas
Scene: Indra, lord of the gods, speaks candidly: he is afflicted by brahmahatyā and therefore stays alone in the waters performing austerity; devas stand at the shore listening.
FAQs
Acknowledging one’s wrongdoing and undertaking tapas (austerity) are presented as steps toward purification from grave sin.
The verse situates Indra in sacred waters within the Kedārakhaṇḍa landscape, implying a tirtha-like setting used for expiation.
Staying in water while practicing tapas is implied as an expiatory discipline, though no formal rite is detailed.