Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 67
तदा ब्रह्मादयो देवा ऋषयश्च विपश्चितः । प्रणम्य नंदिनं प्राहुः कस्मात्त्वं वानराननः । तत्सर्वं कथयान्यं च रावणस्य तपोबलम्
tadā brahmādayo devā ṛṣayaśca vipaścitaḥ | praṇamya naṃdinaṃ prāhuḥ kasmāttvaṃ vānarānanaḥ | tatsarvaṃ kathayānyaṃ ca rāvaṇasya tapobalam
Maka Brahmā dan para dewa lainnya, beserta para ṛṣi yang bijaksana, bersujud kepada Nandin lalu berkata: “Mengapa wajahmu seperti kera? Ceritakanlah semuanya kepada kami—dan jelaskan pula kekuatan tapa Rāvaṇa.”
Narrator (contextual; sages address Nandin)
Tirtha: Kedāra (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Nandin (as respondent)
Scene: A celestial council: Brahmā, devas, and ṛṣis bow to Nandin; their hands folded, faces inquisitive. Nandin’s distinctive monkey-like visage becomes the focal curiosity, foreshadowing a backstory involving Rāvaṇa’s tapas.
FAQs
Even gods and sages approach Śiva’s attendants with humility; true knowledge is sought through reverent inquiry into dharma and the consequences of tapas.
The setting belongs to Kedārakhaṇḍa (Kedāra sacred region) within the Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, framing the narrative in Śaiva sacred geography.
No direct ritual (snāna, dāna, japa, vrata) is prescribed in this verse; it introduces a sacred dialogue about tapas and its fruits.