Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 6
ततस्तेषां तु यो ज्येष्ठो मांसादः प्रत्युवाच तम् । कृतांजलिपुटो भूत्वा विनयावनतः स्थितः
tatasteṣāṃ tu yo jyeṣṭho māṃsādaḥ pratyuvāca tam | kṛtāṃjalipuṭo bhūtvā vinayāvanataḥ sthitaḥ
ततः तेषां ज्येष्ठो मांसादः तम् प्रत्युवाच; कृताञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा विनयावनतः स्थितः।
Eldest of the three pretas (māṃsādaḥ)
Scene: The eldest preta, though terrifying, folds his hands in añjali and bows before the king, signaling a respectful dialogue about to unfold.
FAQs
Even fearsome beings may acknowledge rightful authority and humility; karmic suffering can produce reverence and openness to dharmic remedy.
Not mentioned in this verse; it introduces the speaking preta who will likely connect their plight to tīrtha-based expiation.
None explicitly; the posture of añjali signals supplication and the start of instructive discourse.