Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 23
शिव उवाच । वाक्यं मे श्रृणु तन्वंगि श्रुत्वा तत्कर्तुमर्हसि । कासि कस्यासि तन्वंगि किमर्थमटनं वने । तत्कथ्यतां महाभागे याथातथ्यं सुमध्यमे
śiva uvāca | vākyaṃ me śrṛṇu tanvaṃgi śrutvā tatkartumarhasi | kāsi kasyāsi tanvaṃgi kimarthamaṭanaṃ vane | tatkathyatāṃ mahābhāge yāthātathyaṃ sumadhyame
Śiva bersabda: “Dengarlah kata-kataku, wahai yang bertubuh ramping; setelah mendengarnya, hendaklah engkau bertindak demikian. Siapakah engkau, milik siapakah engkau? Atas tujuan apa engkau mengembara di rimba? Wahai wanita yang beruntung, berpinggang elok, katakanlah kepadaku dengan benar, tepat sebagaimana adanya.”
Śiva
Tirtha: Kedāra (dialogue locus)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śabarī (as addressed); also the narrative audience
Scene: Śiva stands or sits as a calm ascetic-lord, addressing a forest woman respectfully yet firmly; the woman listens with folded hands; the scene emphasizes inquiry, sincerity, and the gravity of speech.
FAQs
Truthful self-disclosure and purposeful living are framed as prerequisites for right action and guidance.
The verse is part of Kedārakhaṇḍa’s Himalayan setting; it does not directly praise a named tīrtha.
No ritual is prescribed; Śiva requests truthful explanation and readiness to act.
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