Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3
तान्दृष्ट्वा भयसंत्रस्तो विशेषेण स भूपतिः । निराशो जीविते कृच्छ्रादिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
tāndṛṣṭvā bhayasaṃtrasto viśeṣeṇa sa bhūpatiḥ | nirāśo jīvite kṛcchrādidaṃ vacanamabravīt
அவர்களைப் பார்த்ததும் அந்த அரசன் மிகுந்த அச்சத்தில் நடுங்கினான்; அந்தத் துன்பத்தில் உயிர் பற்றிய நம்பிக்கை இழந்து இவ்வார்த்தைகளைச் சொன்னான்।
Sūta (continuing narration)
Scene: The king recoils in terror, body tense, eyes widened; his posture collapses from royal confidence into vulnerability as he prepares to speak to the dreadful beings.
FAQs
Fear can become a catalyst for dharmic inquiry; in Māhātmyas, sincere questioning in crisis often leads to instruction and redemption.
Not stated in this verse; it prepares for the revelatory dialogue that typically connects to a tīrtha’s power.
None; it introduces the king’s speech in response to the frightening vision.