Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 2
आसीत्पूर्वं नृपो नाम्ना वसुसेन इति स्मृतः । आनर्त्ताधिपतिः ख्यातो बृहत्कल्पे द्विजोत्तमाः
āsītpūrvaṃ nṛpo nāmnā vasusena iti smṛtaḥ | ānarttādhipatiḥ khyāto bṛhatkalpe dvijottamāḥ
Pada zaman dahulu ada seorang raja bernama Vasusena, demikianlah dikenang. Wahai brāhmaṇa yang utama, baginda masyhur sebagai pemerintah Ānarta pada zaman kalpa agung, Bṛhatkalpa.
Sūta (continuing narration)
Listener: Brāhmaṇas
Scene: A royal court in Ānarta: King Vasusena introduced with attendants, banners, and the sense of an ancient yuga/kalpa setting; a map-like hint of western coastline/river plains.
FAQs
It establishes a dharmic narrative setting: exemplary kings and their deeds are used to illuminate merit (puṇya) connected with sacred places.
Not named in this verse; it introduces the historical frame that will connect the king’s actions to the local tīrtha-māhātmya.
None here; it is a narrative introduction.