Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 1
ऋषय ऊचुः । प्रसुप्ते देवदेवेशे शंखचक्रगदाधरे । यच्चान्यदपि कर्तव्यं नियमो व्रतमेव वा
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | prasupte devadeveśe śaṃkhacakragadādhare | yaccānyadapi kartavyaṃ niyamo vratameva vā
ரிஷிகள் கூறினர்—சங்கு, சக்கரம், கதையைத் தாங்கிய தேவர்களின் தேவேசன் திருநித்திரையில் இருக்கையில், இன்னும் என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும்? எந்த நியமம், எந்த விரதம் கடைப்பிடிக்க வேண்டும்?
Ṛṣis (Sages)
Tirtha: Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Listener: The narrator/teacher figure of the episode (likely Sūta or a sage responding; not shown in this single verse)
Scene: A circle of sages in a forest-ashram near the kṣetra asks about proper vows while a temple image of Viṣṇu (conch, discus, mace) is shown reclining in the background, indicating sacred sleep.
FAQs
Sacred seasons require appropriate dharmic adjustments; the sages seek authoritative guidance on the right vows and disciplines during Viṣṇu’s Cāturmāsya ‘sleep’ period.
The discussion appears within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya stream of Nāgara Khaṇḍa’s Tīrthamāhātmya.
A query is posed about niyama and vrata during the Lord’s slumber; the prescription follows in the subsequent verses.