Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 4
तेनैवमुक्तस्तु महात्मना तदा प्रदर्शयध्वं मम ता यतः स्थिताः । पीत्वा सुराः सर्वमहं पुरस्तात्कृत्यं करिष्ये सुरभक्षणं हि
tenaivamuktastu mahātmanā tadā pradarśayadhvaṃ mama tā yataḥ sthitāḥ | pītvā surāḥ sarvamahaṃ purastātkṛtyaṃ kariṣye surabhakṣaṇaṃ hi
ഇങ്ങനെ പറയപ്പെട്ടപ്പോൾ ആ മഹാത്മാവ് പറഞ്ഞു—‘ആ ജലങ്ങൾ എവിടെയാണെന്ന് എനിക്ക് കാണിച്ചുതരൂ. അവയെല്ലാം പാനം ചെയ്ത ശേഷം ഞാൻ അടുത്ത കര്ത്തവ്യം നിർവഹിക്കും—അത് ദേവഭക്ഷണം തന്നേ.’
Vāḍava (as the agent being instructed; reported speech within Īśvara’s narration)
Listener: Devī
Scene: A formidable figure (the ‘great-souled one’) speaks with grim certainty, demanding to be shown the waters; devas appear uneasy. In the background, a vast reservoir or subterranean confluence is hinted, emphasizing the scale of ‘all waters.’
FAQs
Even destructive power is portrayed as operating under instruction and sequence—first the ordained target, then the next duty.
Prabhāsakṣetra is the overarching setting; this verse is part of the mythic explanation supporting the māhātmya.
None; it is narrative dialogue about a cosmic act (drinking the waters).