Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 55
क्षुत्पीडया समायाता नैव निद्रा कथंचन । स्वल्पापि मंदिरे चात्र स्थितयोर्हरसन्निधौ
kṣutpīḍayā samāyātā naiva nidrā kathaṃcana | svalpāpi maṃdire cātra sthitayorharasannidhau
பசியின் துன்பத்தால் வாடிய நமிருவருக்கும் எவ்விதத்திலும் உறக்கம் வரவில்லை; இங்கே இந்த ஆலயத்தில் ஹரன் (சிவன்) சன்னிதியில் இருந்தபோதும், சிறிதளவும் இல்லை।
Rājā (continuing narration)
Tirtha: Hara-sannidhi (temple residence)
Type: temple
Listener: Dvijottamāḥ (best of Brahmins)
Scene: Inside a dim temple hall, two pilgrims sit near the sanctum through the night—thin, hungry, eyes open—lamp-light falling on the Śiva emblem, their bodies weary but minds fixed.
FAQs
Austerity endured in the immediate presence of Śiva—here, wakefulness caused by hunger—becomes part of a spiritually charged vigil.
The temple locale where Hara is present (Hara-sannidhi) within the Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narrative; the verse emphasizes sanctity through proximity to the deity.
Implicitly, the practice of remaining awake (jāgaraṇa) in the temple precincts, even under bodily hardship.