Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 8
शुक्र उवाच । यदि तुष्टो महादेव विद्यां देहि महेश्वर । यया जीवंति संप्राप्ता मृत्युं संख्येपि जंतवः
śukra uvāca | yadi tuṣṭo mahādeva vidyāṃ dehi maheśvara | yayā jīvaṃti saṃprāptā mṛtyuṃ saṃkhyepi jaṃtavaḥ
Śukra berkata: “Jika Engkau berkenan, wahai Mahādeva, wahai Maheśvara, kurniakanlah kepadaku vidyā yang suci, yang dengannya makhluk—walau telah bertemu maut—dapat dihidupkan kembali.”
Śukra
Tirtha: Arbuda (vidyā-prāpti-sthāna)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Mahādeva / Maheśvara (Śiva)
Scene: Śukra, hands folded, requests a secret vidyā from Śiva; Śiva listens with composed compassion; the atmosphere is charged—suggesting the gravity of reviving the dead; subtle imagery of a faintly glowing mantra-syllable or palm-leaf scripture may appear.
FAQs
Divine knowledge (vidyā) granted by Śiva is portrayed as a power that can transcend even death when aligned with divine will.
The request occurs within the Arbuda-khaṇḍa’s sacred landscape, framing the region as a stage for extraordinary Śaiva boons.
A plea for vidyā (mantric knowledge) rather than a public ritual; it implies initiation/grace as the means of attainment.