Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 44
पृच्छमाना यदा देवै र्नाह ताराऽतिसत्रपा । तदा सा शप्तुमारब्धा कुमारेणातितेजसा
pṛcchamānā yadā devai rnāha tārā'tisatrapā | tadā sā śaptumārabdhā kumāreṇātitejasā
Apabila para dewa menyoalnya, Tārā—diliputi rasa malu yang amat—tidak mampu menjawab. Maka Kumāra (Skanda) yang sangat bercahaya pun mula melafazkan sumpahan ke atasnya.
Skanda (to Agastya, deduced from Kāśīkhaṇḍa context)
Scene: Assembly of devas questioning Tārā; she stands with downcast eyes, overwhelmed by shame; Kumāra’s radiant, youthful form rises in indignation, poised to utter a curse; tension held in a celestial court setting.
FAQs
Dharma is upheld through truthful accountability; shame and concealment invite corrective divine intervention.
The broader narrative belongs to Kāśī’s Māhātmya, preparing the ground for later praise of Kāśī and its liṅgas.
None in this verse; it is narrative context leading toward Kāśī-based worship and merit.