Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 5
महेशाय च भक्ते द्वौ कृपायेतां सदा मयि । ततः श्रेष्ठं च तं मत्वा क्षीरोदं मुनयो ययुः
maheśāya ca bhakte dvau kṛpāyetāṃ sadā mayi | tataḥ śreṣṭhaṃ ca taṃ matvā kṣīrodaṃ munayo yayuḥ
“Semoga kedua-duanya—Maheśa dan sang bhakta—sentiasa melimpahkan belas kasih kepadaku.” Lalu para muni, menganggap (alam itu) paling utama, pergi ke Lautan Susu (Kṣīroda).
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deductive, Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative frame)
Tirtha: Kṣīroda / Kṣīrābdhi
Type: kshetra
Listener: Karadhama
Scene: Sages, having heard Brahmā’s humble prayer, journey to the luminous Ocean of Milk where a serene divine presence is implied; the motif of compassion from Maheśa and a great devotee hovers as blessing.
FAQs
Divine grace flows through both the Lord and true devotion; seeking compassion (kṛpā) is central to purāṇic bhakti.
A cosmic sacred geography is invoked: Kṣīroda, the Ocean of Milk, revered as a divine realm rather than a terrestrial tīrtha.
No direct rite is prescribed; the verse emphasizes prayer for grace and the sages’ pilgrimage-like movement toward a sanctified realm.