Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 2
तत्त्वं सूतज नो ब्रूहि विस्तरेण महामते । यथा तेन पुरा पीतो मुनिना पयसांनिधिः
tattvaṃ sūtaja no brūhi vistareṇa mahāmate | yathā tena purā pīto muninā payasāṃnidhiḥ
“Wahai Sūtaja yang bijaksana, jelaskanlah kepada kami kebenaran itu dengan terperinci—bagaimana pada zaman dahulu Samudra Susu itu diminum oleh muni tersebut.”
Ṛṣayaḥ (the sages)
Tirtha: Kṣīroda-samudra (Ocean of Milk)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sūtaja
Scene: The sages lean forward, palms joined or hands raised in inquiry, requesting a detailed, truthful account; Sūtaja sits poised to narrate, with a subtle visionary hint of the milky ocean behind.
FAQs
Seeking ‘tattva’ (the real meaning) is essential before adopting beliefs or practices based on sacred stories.
Not specified in this verse; it introduces the mythic episode that will support the chapter’s tīrtha teaching.
None; it is a request for a fuller narration.