Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 11
ततः प्रोवाच मधुरं विनयावनतः स्थितः । निःस्पृहस्यापि विप्रेंद्र कि वाऽगमनकारणम्
tataḥ provāca madhuraṃ vinayāvanataḥ sthitaḥ | niḥspṛhasyāpi vipreṃdra ki vā'gamanakāraṇam
Kemudian, sambil berdiri menunduk penuh hormat, ia berkata dengan lembut: “Wahai yang terbaik di antara para Brāhmaṇa! Walau engkau tanpa keinginan, apakah sesungguhnya sebab kedatanganmu?”
Rohitāśva (addressing Mārkaṇḍeya)
Tirtha: Sarayū-saṅgama (contextual)
Type: sangam
Scene: A householder/king stands with folded hands, slightly bowed, speaking softly to a radiant sage; attendants remain quiet; the river-tīrtha atmosphere is suggested in the background.
FAQs
A ruler should inquire respectfully into dharma; even casual meetings with the desireless are treated as meaningful and providential.
Ayodhyā remains the narrative locus, soon linked with Sarayū tīrtha observances and śrāddha-related instruction.
No direct ritual instruction appears; it initiates the inquiry that will lead to prescriptions about śrāddha and offerings.