Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 1
ऋषय ऊचुः । यदुक्तं भवता सूत महदाख्यानमद्भुतम् । शम्भोर्माहात्म्यकथनमशेषाघहरं परम्
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | yaduktaṃ bhavatā sūta mahadākhyānamadbhutam | śambhormāhātmyakathanamaśeṣāghaharaṃ param
ऋषियों ने कहा—हे सूत! आपने जो महान् और अद्भुत आख्यान कहा है, वह शम्भु के माहात्म्य का परम कथन है, जो समस्त पापों का निःशेष नाश करने वाला है।
Ṛṣis (Sages)
Listener: Ṛṣis
Scene: Forest hermitage assembly: sages seated in a semicircle, addressing Sūta with folded hands; a subtle aura of Śiva (trident, crescent moon motif) implied behind the narration as the ‘sin-destroying’ power of the tale.
FAQs
Śiva-māhātmya heard with faith is itself a purifier, capable of dissolving accumulated sin.
No site is specified; the verse glorifies Śambhu’s māhātmya (greatness) in general.
The implied sādhana is śravaṇa (devotional listening) of Śiva’s greatness as a sin-removing act.