Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 50
एवं निश्चित्य मनसा गतस्तस्य समीपतः । कर्णिकारं समारुह्य स्थितो गुप्तस्ततो हि सः
evaṃ niścitya manasā gatastasya samīpataḥ | karṇikāraṃ samāruhya sthito guptastato hi saḥ
Ayant ainsi arrêté sa décision en son cœur, il s’approcha de ce lieu ; puis, grimpant à un arbre karṇikāra, il y demeura caché.
Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narrator; traditionally Sūta)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A karṇikāra tree beside a temple wall; the thief climbs and crouches among blossoms/leaves, half-hidden, eyes scanning the courtyard exit.
FAQs
The setting prepares the theme of unintended virtue: circumstances can force wakefulness and proximity to worship, which later yields spiritual fruit.
The immediate vicinity of Śiva’s shrine where the vigil is taking place.
Implicitly, remaining awake through the night (jāgaraṇa), though here he does so while hiding.