Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 18
कः सन्तापः क उद्वेगः किं दुःखं व्याधिरेव च । शिशुः संदृश्यसेऽद्यापि कारणं कथ्यतामिदम्
kaḥ santāpaḥ ka udvegaḥ kiṃ duḥkhaṃ vyādhireva ca | śiśuḥ saṃdṛśyase'dyāpi kāraṇaṃ kathyatāmidam
हा कोणता संताप, हा कोणता उद्वेग? कोणते दुःख किंवा रोग तुला बाधतो? तू आजही बालकासारखा दिसतोस; याचे कारण सांग.
Bhānumatī
Scene: A queen or noble lady gently questions a youthful-looking forest-dweller (Śabara) who appears troubled; the setting suggests a riverbank tīrtha with trees, steps, and pilgrims in the distance.
FAQs
Dharma begins with attentive inquiry—understanding suffering before prescribing a spiritual remedy.
The conversation is framed within the Śūlabheda tīrtha region of the Revā Khaṇḍa.
None; the verse prepares for teaching by eliciting the cause of the crisis.