Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4
कदाचिद्रक्षतस्तस्य पशूंस्तान्वनभूमिषु । पशुरेको विनिष्क्रांतः स्वयूथात्तृणलोभतः
kadācidrakṣatastasya paśūṃstānvanabhūmiṣu | paśureko viniṣkrāṃtaḥ svayūthāttṛṇalobhataḥ
Un jour, tandis qu’il gardait ces bêtes dans les étendues forestières, l’une d’elles s’écarta de son troupeau, attirée par la convoitise de l’herbe.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced; not explicit in snippet)
Listener: Dvija audience
Scene: A cow (or beast) breaks away from the herd into dense forest, drawn toward a patch of lush grass; the cowherd is in the distance with the remaining herd; shafts of light suggest destiny guiding the animal toward a hidden sacred spot.
FAQs
Small lapses driven by desire can lead to larger trouble; vigilance is part of one’s dharma in entrusted duties.
This verse continues the introductory episode; the tīrtha itself is not specified in the verse.
None; it narrates the cause of the missing animal.