Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 103
तदा जाज्वल्यमानं वै कालकूटं प्रभोज्जवलम् । दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्माथ तान्दृष्ट्वा ह्यकर्मज्ञानसुरासुरान् । तेषां शपितुमारेभे नारदेन निवारितः
tadā jājvalyamānaṃ vai kālakūṭaṃ prabhojjavalam | dṛṣṭvā brahmātha tāndṛṣṭvā hyakarmajñānasurāsurān | teṣāṃ śapitumārebhe nāradena nivāritaḥ
तदा प्रभोज्ज्वलं जाज्वल्यमानं कालकूटं दृष्ट्वा ब्रह्मा, तानपि अकर्मज्ञानान् सुरासुरान् दृष्ट्वा, शपितुमारेभे; नारदेन तु निवारितः॥
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)
Listener: Purāṇic audience
Scene: Brahmā beholds the fierce, incandescent Kālakūṭa like a living flame-cloud; Devas and Asuras stand confused and morally disoriented; Brahmā raises a hand to curse, but Nārada steps in, calming him with a pacifying gesture and veena at his side.
FAQs
Even divine authority must be guided by discernment and compassion; wise counsel (Nārada) prevents rash punishment.
The Kedārakhaṇḍa context supports the sacred Kedāra geography, though this verse is set in Satyaloka’s divine court.
No ritual prescription; it is a dharma-teaching through narrative (restraint, right action).