Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 21
ऋषय ऊचुः यदेतद्भवता प्रोक्तमशून्यशायिनीव्रतम् । इन्द्रेण यत्कृतं पूर्वं तुष्ट्यर्थं चक्रपाणिनः । प्रसुप्तस्य महाभाग फलं चैव प्रकीर्तितम्
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ yadetadbhavatā proktamaśūnyaśāyinīvratam | indreṇa yatkṛtaṃ pūrvaṃ tuṣṭyarthaṃ cakrapāṇinaḥ | prasuptasya mahābhāga phalaṃ caiva prakīrtitam
Para resi berkata: “Wahai yang amat beruntung, brata Aśūnyaśāyinī yang engkau jelaskan—yang dahulu dilakukan oleh Indra demi menyenangkan Tuhan Pemegang Cakra—beserta buahnya ketika Sang Bhagavān berbaring dalam yoga-nidrā, telah pula dimaklumkan.”
Ṛṣis (Sages)
Tirtha: Aśūnyaśāyinī-vrata (as observance focus)
Listener: the revered speaker addressed as महाभाग (likely the main narrator of the section)
Scene: A circle of sages addresses a revered narrator, referencing Indra’s ancient observance; in the background, a symbolic vision of Viṣṇu in yoganidrā on Śeṣa suggests the vow’s focus.
FAQs
Purāṇic vows are validated through exemplary precedent (Indra) and are aimed at pleasing the Supreme Lord with devotion.
No particular tīrtha is mentioned; the focus is on the vow’s pedigree and theological setting (Viṣṇu’s yoga-nidrā).
The verse frames inquiry: it references the Aśūnyaśāyinī-vrata and its fruit, preparing for details of time and method.