Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4
यस्मादिच्छामि संस्थातुं तेन ते गृहमागतः । क्षत्रिय उवाच । नात्र नक्षत्रमर्हं तु न किंचिद्भगदैवतम्
yasmādicchāmi saṃsthātuṃ tena te gṛhamāgataḥ | kṣatriya uvāca | nātra nakṣatramarhaṃ tu na kiṃcidbhagadaivatam
«Parce que je désire m’établir par le mariage, c’est pour cela même que je suis venu dans ta demeure.» Le kṣatriya répondit : «Mais ici, il n’y a pas de nakṣatra convenable, ni aucun signe divin de bon augure.»
Dialogue: Maṇibhadra (first sentence) and Kṣatriya (reply)
Scene: A suitor or emissary arrives at a Kṣatriya household stating his intent to settle in marriage; the Kṣatriya responds with concern about the absence of a suitable nakṣatra and auspicious divine indications. The mood is restrained, deliberative, with elders and ritual specialists nearby.
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma balances intent with proper timing and auspiciousness; even when a rite is desired, traditional signs and nakṣatra considerations are invoked.
The broader narrative belongs to the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya stream, but this verse is focused on marriage timing rather than tīrtha description.
Reference is made to selecting an ‘arha’ nakṣatra and auspicious omens (daivata) for conducting vivāha.