Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 54
सीतायाश्च तदा भर्तुर्मायामूर्धादिदर्शनम् । माघशुक्लद्वितीया यां दिनैः सप्तभिरष्टमीम्
sītāyāśca tadā bharturmāyāmūrdhādidarśanam | māghaśukladvitīyā yāṃ dinaiḥ saptabhiraṣṭamīm
तेव्हा सीतेला पतीविषयी मायामय दर्शन दाखविले गेले—मस्तक इत्यादीचे प्रदर्शन करून। माघ शुक्ल द्वितीयापासून सात दिवसांनी अष्टमी आली।
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa in Brāhma Khaṇḍa context)
Scene: Sītā in the Aśoka grove is shown a terrifying illusion—Rāma’s severed head and tokens—crafted by rākṣasa māyā; Sītā’s face shows shock and grief yet inner resolve, with protective deities subtly implied.
FAQs
Māyā can shake even the steadfast; dharma calls for inner clarity and faith beyond deceptive appearances.
None; the verse concerns events in Laṅkā and the moral theme of illusion.
None; the tithi references function as narrative dating.