चमत्कारपुरे विप्रः पुरासीत्संशितव्रतः । चंडशर्मेति विख्यातो रूपौदार्यगुणान्वितः
camatkārapure vipraḥ purāsītsaṃśitavrataḥ | caṃḍaśarmeti vikhyāto rūpaudāryaguṇānvitaḥ
Di kota Camatkāra, pada zaman dahulu hiduplah seorang brāhmaṇa yang teguh dalam nazarnya, masyhur dengan nama Caṇḍaśarman, dikurniai ketampanan, kemurahan hati, dan segala kebajikan.
Sūta
Type: kshetra
Listener: brāhmaṇa-sattamāḥ
Scene: A dignified brāhmaṇa (Caṇḍaśarman) in a city setting—clean attire, sacred thread, calm face—shown giving alms or performing daily rites, establishing his virtuous baseline.
The verse sets up a moral narrative: even the virtuous and vow-steadfast can be tested, making dharma a lived discipline.
The Gaṅgā-māhātmya framework continues; the immediate place named is Camatkārapura, the story’s setting.
No direct ritual instruction; it introduces a character known for vrata (vowed discipline).