Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 2
ऋषय ऊचुः । यत्वया सूतज प्रोक्तं देवी कात्यायनी च सा । महिषांतकरी जाता कथं सा मे प्रकीर्तय । कीदृग्दानववर्यः स माहिषं रूपमाश्रितः । कस्मात्स सूदितो देव्या तन्मे विस्तरतो वद
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | yatvayā sūtaja proktaṃ devī kātyāyanī ca sā | mahiṣāṃtakarī jātā kathaṃ sā me prakīrtaya | kīdṛgdānavavaryaḥ sa māhiṣaṃ rūpamāśritaḥ | kasmātsa sūdito devyā tanme vistarato vada
ଋଷିମାନେ କହିଲେ—ହେ ସୂତନନ୍ଦନ! ତୁମେ କହିଛ ଯେ ସେଇ ଦେବୀ କାତ୍ୟାୟନୀ ଏବଂ ସେ ମହିଷାସୁର-ସଂହାରିଣୀ ହେଲେ। ଏହା କିପରି ଘଟିଲା, ଆମକୁ କହ। ମହିଷରୂପ ଧାରଣ କରିଥିବା ସେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଦାନବ କେମିତି ଥିଲା? ଏବଂ କେଉଁ କାରଣରୁ ଦେବୀ ତାକୁ ବଧ କଲେ? ସବୁ ବିସ୍ତାରରେ କହ।
Ṛṣis (the sages)
Listener: Sūta (addressed as Sūtaja)
Scene: A council of sages in an āśrama, hands raised in respectful inquiry toward Sūta seated on a vyāsapīṭha; behind them a faint vision of Kātyāyanī with lion and the buffalo-demon silhouette, foreshadowing the tale.
FAQs
Inquiry into sacred history (itihāsa within Purāṇa) is presented as a dharmic act—seeking causes, forms, and divine justice behind the destruction of adharma.
The immediate focus shifts from site-glorification to Devī-māhātmya narrative; the broader setting remains within the Nāgara Khaṇḍa’s tīrtha-oriented discourse.
None explicitly; it is a narrative prompt requesting detailed kathā (sacred account).
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