Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4
के यूयं विकृताकारा मया दृष्टा न कर्हिचित् । एवंविधा नृलोकेऽत्र भ्रमता प्राग्विभीषणाः
ke yūyaṃ vikṛtākārā mayā dṛṣṭā na karhicit | evaṃvidhā nṛloke'tra bhramatā prāgvibhīṣaṇāḥ
« Qui êtes-vous, aux formes si déformées ? Jamais auparavant je n'ai vu d'êtres comme vous. Comment des créatures aussi terrifiantes errent-elles ici dans le monde des humains ? »
King Vidūratha (identified in the next verse; deduced here as the questioner)
Scene: The king addresses the three distorted beings, pointing or gesturing in inquiry; the pretas stand/hover with grotesque features, creating a stark contrast between human order and uncanny disorder.
FAQs
Right inquiry begins with confronting the uncanny; asking ‘who are you?’ opens the path to understanding karma, suffering, and remedial dharma.
No site is named; the verse is part of the approach narrative that leads into tīrtha-centered instruction.
None; it is a direct question initiating the teaching exchange.