Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4
यस्मादिच्छामि संस्थातुं तेन ते गृहमागतः । क्षत्रिय उवाच । नात्र नक्षत्रमर्हं तु न किंचिद्भगदैवतम्
yasmādicchāmi saṃsthātuṃ tena te gṛhamāgataḥ | kṣatriya uvāca | nātra nakṣatramarhaṃ tu na kiṃcidbhagadaivatam
“Kerana aku ingin menetap dalam ikatan perkahwinan, maka atas sebab itulah aku datang ke rumahmu.” Ksatria itu menjawab: “Namun di sini tiada rasi bintang (nakṣatra) yang layak, dan tiada pula petanda ilahi yang baik.”
Dialogue: Maṇibhadra (first sentence) and Kṣatriya (reply)
Scene: A suitor or emissary arrives at a Kṣatriya household stating his intent to settle in marriage; the Kṣatriya responds with concern about the absence of a suitable nakṣatra and auspicious divine indications. The mood is restrained, deliberative, with elders and ritual specialists nearby.
FAQs
Purāṇic dharma balances intent with proper timing and auspiciousness; even when a rite is desired, traditional signs and nakṣatra considerations are invoked.
The broader narrative belongs to the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya stream, but this verse is focused on marriage timing rather than tīrtha description.
Reference is made to selecting an ‘arha’ nakṣatra and auspicious omens (daivata) for conducting vivāha.