Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 2
गायत्र्यपि समादाय मूर्ध्नि तामरणिं मुदा । प्रतस्थे संपरित्यज्य गोपभावं विगर्हितम्
gāyatryapi samādāya mūrdhni tāmaraṇiṃ mudā | pratasthe saṃparityajya gopabhāvaṃ vigarhitam
Gāyatrī aussi, posant avec joie cette araṇi sur sa tête, se mit en route, rejetant l’apparence blâmée d’une femme gardienne de troupeau.
Sūta (continuing narration)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Gāyatrī, joyful, carries an araṇi on her head as a sacred burden and discards a censured cowherd-woman guise, revealing her divine radiance while proceeding to the yajña pavilion.
FAQs
Right role and right ritual readiness are emphasized—inner joy paired with outward alignment to dharma.
The scene remains within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra māhātmya narrative frame of the Nāgara Khaṇḍa.
Carrying the araṇi (fire-producing implement) for yajña—signaling active participation in sacrificial proceedings.