Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 41
कस्मादिहागतः शक्र सुतलं प्रति कथ्यताम् । तस्यैतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स्मयमान उवाचतम्
kasmādihāgataḥ śakra sutalaṃ prati kathyatām | tasyaitadvacanaṃ śrutvā smayamāna uvācatam
ഹേ ശക്രാ! നീ ഇവിടെ എന്തിനാണ് വന്നത്? സുതലത്തിലേക്കു പോകാനുള്ള കാര്യം പറയുക. ഈ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ട് ഇന്ദ്രൻ അല്പഹാസത്തോടെ മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു.
Bali (question), then Narrator introduces Indra’s reply
Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A charged but controlled meeting: a powerful figure questions Indra about his purpose in approaching Sutala; Indra answers with a restrained smile, signaling diplomacy and hidden intent.
FAQs
Dharma begins with clarity: asking the purpose of a visit prevents needless conflict and supports right conduct.
No specific tīrtha is praised in this line; the place mentioned is Sutala (a nether realm), within a Kedārakhaṇḍa narrative frame.
None.