Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5
तया पृष्टा च सा साध्वी का त्वं कस्य सुता शुभे । किमर्थं तु स्थिता चोग्रे तपसि ब्रूहि मे शुभे
tayā pṛṣṭā ca sā sādhvī kā tvaṃ kasya sutā śubhe | kimarthaṃ tu sthitā cogre tapasi brūhi me śubhe
ସେ ପଚାରିଲା ପରେ ସେଇ ସାଧ୍ବୀ କହିଲା—“ହେ ଶୁଭେ, ତୁମେ କିଏ, କାହାର କନ୍ୟା? ଏବଂ କେଉଁ କାରଣରୁ ଏହି ଘୋର ତପସ୍ୟାରେ ସ୍ଥିତ ଅଛ? ମୋତେ କୁହ, ହେ କଲ୍ୟାଣୀ।”
Arundhatī (implied from immediate narrative context; the questioning ascetic)
Tirtha: Śaṅkhatīrtha (contextual)
Type: tirtha
Scene: A venerable virtuous woman addresses the radiant ascetic with folded hands, asking her name, parentage, and the reason for her fierce austerity; the tīrtha background remains calm and sacred.
FAQs
Dharma begins with humble inquiry—knowing a devotee’s intent and discipline clarifies the purpose of tapas and pilgrimage.
The verse is a narrative preface; the immediate context in this adhyāya leads into the glory of Śaṅkhatīrtha and Śaṅkheśvara.
No explicit ritual is prescribed here; it introduces a discussion about intense tapas (austerity).