Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 17
तथेति स प्रतिज्ञाय सर्वेषां पुरतोद्रिजे । मध्ये वनं प्राविशच्च महाचिंताभयार्दितः
tatheti sa pratijñāya sarveṣāṃ puratodrije | madhye vanaṃ prāviśacca mahāciṃtābhayārditaḥ
“ତଥାସ୍ତୁ” ବୋଲି ସେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା କଲା; ପରେ ମହାଚିନ୍ତା ଓ ଭୟରେ ପୀଡିତ ହୋଇ ପର୍ବତଜ ଦେଶର ମଧ୍ୟସ୍ଥ ବନକୁ ପ୍ରବେଶ କଲା।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa typically Skanda to Agastya)
Scene: The student, having pledged publicly, steps into a dense forest; his face shows worry and fear, while the background hints at rugged terrain and looming trees.
FAQs
A vow made in public binds the conscience; even fear does not annul the obligation to pursue dharma.
The setting belongs to the Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s sacred geography of Kāśī, though this line narrates a forest episode rather than a named tīrtha.
None; it is narrative, highlighting the weight of pratijñā (a pledged word).