Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 32
सूत उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा बर्बरीकं कृष्णः प्राह घटोत्कचम् । घटोत्कचार्य पुत्रस्ते दृढं सुहृदयो ह्यसौ
sūta uvāca | evamuktvā barbarīkaṃ kṛṣṇaḥ prāha ghaṭotkacam | ghaṭotkacārya putraste dṛḍhaṃ suhṛdayo hyasau
സൂതൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഇങ്ങനെ ബർബരീകനെ അഭിസംബോധന ചെയ്ത് കൃഷ്ണൻ ഘടോത്കചനോട് പറഞ്ഞു: “ആര്യ ഘടോത്കചാ, നിന്റെ ഈ പുത്രൻ നിശ്ചയം ദൃഢഹൃദയനായ സത്യസുഹൃത്ത് ആകുന്നു।”
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa)
Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya sages (implied standard frame)
Scene: Sūta narrates as Kṛṣṇa turns from Barbarīka to address Ghaṭotkaca, praising the son’s steadfast friendship; a heroic camp setting with weapons, banners, and attentive warriors.
FAQs
A noble character is recognized by steadfast goodwill—being a true friend (suhṛdaya) is praised as a virtue.
No site is directly named in this verse; it introduces the narrative that later connects to Guptakṣetra.
None; this is narrative dialogue establishing character and naming.