Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 12
एवमुक्त्वा तु देवेशो गौरवर्णो द्विजोऽभवत् । क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठो जटिलः शुष्को धमनिसंततः
evamuktvā tu deveśo gauravarṇo dvijo'bhavat | kṣutkṣāmakaṇṭho jaṭilaḥ śuṣko dhamanisaṃtataḥ
Setelah berkata demikian, Dewa segala dewa pun menjadi seorang brāhmana berkulit cerah. Kerongkongnya tampak kering kerana lapar; berambut jata, tubuhnya susut-kering, dan urat-uratnya menonjol jelas.
Narrator (contextual)
Tirtha: Revā-tīrtha (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Devadeveśa transforms into a pale brāhmaṇa: emaciated, parched throat, matted hair, dried body with prominent veins—an intentional, poignant disguise to evoke compassion and prompt giving.
FAQs
The Lord may appear in humble, needy forms to draw out dharma—especially hospitality, compassion, and reverence toward brāhmaṇas.
The Revā Khaṇḍa setting indicates a Narmadā/Revā tīrtha where divine līlā reveals the tīrtha’s fruit.
No direct prescription is stated, but the scene sets up atithi-sevā (feeding a guest/brāhmaṇa) as a dhārmic act tied to merit.