Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 8
तस्यैवं गुणयुक्तस्य सार्वभौमस्य भूपतेः । एक एव महानासीद्दोषः पुत्रविवर्जितः
tasyaivaṃ guṇayuktasya sārvabhaumasya bhūpateḥ | eka eva mahānāsīddoṣaḥ putravivarjitaḥ
അങ്ങനെ ഗുണസമ്പന്നനായ ആ സർവ്വഭൗമ രാജാവിന് ഒരേയൊരു മഹാ കുറവ് ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു—അവൻ പുത്രവിയോഗിയായിരുന്നു।
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa/Sūta narrator)
Type: kshetra
Scene: The virtuous king alone in a quiet chamber or temple courtyard at night, surrounded by prosperity yet inwardly sorrowful; he gazes at a cradle left empty or offers prayer before a deity for a son.
FAQs
Even great virtue does not erase human longing; Purāṇas channel such desires toward dharmic means—tapas and tīrtha-sevā.
The verse prepares for the tīrtha-account where Hariścandra undertakes austerities for progeny; the place is specified next.
No direct prescription here; it introduces the motive for subsequent tapas and worship.