Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 12
पृष्ट्वा तारां प्रणम्यादौ क्व गतो हि महातपाः । न जानामीत्युवाचेदं तारा शक्रं निरीक्षती
pṛṣṭvā tārāṃ praṇamyādau kva gato hi mahātapāḥ | na jānāmītyuvācedaṃ tārā śakraṃ nirīkṣatī
Après avoir interrogé Tārā et s’être d’abord incliné devant elle, il demanda : « Où est allé le grand ascète ? » Tārā, regardant Śakra, répondit : « Je ne le sais pas. »
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating
Listener: Śaunaka and sages (frame implied)
Scene: Indra bows respectfully to Tārā at the threshold of the guru’s dwelling, then questions her; Tārā, composed yet troubled, answers with a steady gaze: ‘I do not know.’
FAQs
When reverence is lost, access to guidance is lost—one may be left without the guru’s presence and direction.
No specific tirtha is named; the verse is part of Kedārakhaṇḍa’s dharma-teaching narrative.
The act shown is respectful approach—praṇāma (bowing) before inquiry—an element of proper conduct.