Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 107
उवाच गत्वा सहसा भामिनीं रतिमंतिके । कस्यासि त्वं विशालाक्षि केन वा तप्यते तपः
uvāca gatvā sahasā bhāminīṃ ratimaṃtike | kasyāsi tvaṃ viśālākṣi kena vā tapyate tapaḥ
S’approchant aussitôt de cette femme ardente—Rati—Nārada dit : «Ô toi aux grands yeux, à qui appartiens-tu ? Et pour qui accomplis-tu cette austérité ?»
Nārada
Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra (dialogue locus)
Type: kshetra
Listener: null
Scene: Nārada, moving quickly with vīṇā, approaches Rati seated in austerity and questions her identity and the beneficiary of her tapas; the scene holds tension between compassion and probing scrutiny.
FAQs
Spiritual practice is examined by sages: intention (saṅkalpa) and identity are central to tapas.
The setting remains within the Kedāra Khaṇḍa’s sacred geography, implying a Śaiva tīrtha backdrop for the dialogue.
No specific rite is prescribed; the verse focuses on the purpose behind tapas.