Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 8
प्रस्थिताः समयं कृत्वा स्पर्धमानाः परस्परम् । अहंपूर्वमहं पूर्वं वीक्षयिष्यामि तं विभुम्
prasthitāḥ samayaṃ kṛtvā spardhamānāḥ parasparam | ahaṃpūrvamahaṃ pūrvaṃ vīkṣayiṣyāmi taṃ vibhum
Ils partirent après avoir fixé l’heure, se défiant les uns les autres : « Moi d’abord ! moi d’abord ! Je serai le premier à contempler ce Seigneur ».
Sūta
Tirtha: Hāṭakeśvara
Type: temple
Scene: Sages set out together, some gesturing ‘I first’, their strides quick, staffs lifted, dust rising from the path—devotion tinged with playful rivalry.
FAQs
Even spiritual seekers can fall into rivalry; the narrative sets up a teaching that devotion should be joined with humility.
The destination is Hāṭakeśvara in the Vārāṇasī sacred region.
None—this verse describes the pilgrims’ resolve and competitive mood.