Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 7
नारद उवाच । प्रणिपत्य कुमाराय सेनान्ये चेश्वराय च । श्रृणु चैकमनाः पार्थ कुमारचरितं महत्
nārada uvāca | praṇipatya kumārāya senānye ceśvarāya ca | śrṛṇu caikamanāḥ pārtha kumāracaritaṃ mahat
നാരദൻ പറഞ്ഞു—കുമാരനായ ദേവസേനാപതിക്കും ഈശ്വരനും പ്രണാമം ചെയ്ത്, ഹേ പാർഥ, ഏകാഗ്രമനസ്സോടെ കുമാരന്റെ മഹത്തായ ചരിതം കേൾക്കുക.
Nārada
Listener: Pārtha (Phālguna/Arjuna)
Scene: Nārada, holding a vīṇā, bows (or gestures reverently) to Kumāra and Śiva, then addresses Pārtha seated attentively; the atmosphere is solemn, preparing for a long sacred narration.
FAQs
Sacred narration should begin with reverence to the deity, and it should be heard with focused attention for maximum spiritual benefit.
Not directly; it functions as a preface to the Kumāreśvara/Kumāra-related māhātmya narrative.
Praṇipāta (prostration) to Kumāra and Īśvara, and attentive śravaṇa (listening) to the kathā.