नारदः प्राह नः पूर्वं कथयामस्तमेव ते । ब्रह्मदेवद्विषः पूर्वं शतशो दैत्यदानवाः । तपोभिरुग्रैर्विविधैः शंकरं प्रतिपेदिरे
nāradaḥ prāha naḥ pūrvaṃ kathayāmastameva te | brahmadevadviṣaḥ pūrvaṃ śataśo daityadānavāḥ | tapobhirugrairvividhaiḥ śaṃkaraṃ pratipedire
Nārada telah memberitahu kami dahulu; kini kami akan menyampaikan kisah yang sama kepadamu. Pada masa lampau, ratusan Daitya dan Dānava—musuh Brahmā dan para dewa—mendekati Śaṅkara melalui tapa yang keras dan beraneka ragam.
Unspecified narrator within the section (relaying Nārada’s prior teaching)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sages/pilgrims addressed as ‘you’ in the narrative frame (contextual)
Scene: Nārada, as authoritative sage-narrator, begins recounting an ancient episode: ranks of Daityas and Dānavas performing fierce austerities—standing amid fires, under sun and rain—directing their tapas toward Śaṅkara.
Even formidable beings seek Śiva through tapas; the narrative underscores the power of austerity and Śiva’s centrality.
Prabhāsakṣetra remains the narrative setting, preparing a teaching connected to Someśvara worship within this tīrtha’s māhātmya.
Tapas (austerity) is highlighted as a means of approaching Śaṅkara; details are to follow in the subsequent narration.