Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 15
उलूकं गृध्रराजश्च कार्यं पप्रच्छ तं तथा । म चाचख्यावयं मित्रं बको मेऽस्य मुनिः किल
ulūkaṃ gṛdhrarājaśca kāryaṃ papraccha taṃ tathā | ma cācakhyāvayaṃ mitraṃ bako me'sya muniḥ kila
Raja burung hering bertanya kepada Ulūka tentang tujuan kedatangan mereka. Lalu Ulūka menjelaskan: “Ini sahabat kami; dan Baka ini—sebagaimana dikatakan—ialah seorang muni, pertapa suci.”
Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa, per Māheśvarakhaṇḍa convention)
Listener: Śaunaka/ṛṣis (typical frame; not explicit here)
Scene: A vulture-king confronts an owl (Ulūka) in a forested liminal space; the owl introduces a companion crane (Baka) reputed to be a sage; the moment is tense yet inquisitive.
FAQs
Truthful introduction and clarity of intention are part of dharma in any meeting—especially among elders and seekers.
No tīrtha is explicitly praised in this verse.
None; it is a narrative exchange establishing identity and purpose.