Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 2
मखकर्मणि प्रारब्ध ऋत्विग्भिर्वेदपारगैः । जलसर्पं समादाय बटुः कश्चित्सुनर्मकृत्
makhakarmaṇi prārabdha ṛtvigbhirvedapāragaiḥ | jalasarpaṃ samādāya baṭuḥ kaścitsunarmakṛt
వేదపారగులైన ఋత్వికులు యజ్ఞకర్మను ప్రారంభించిన వేళ, ఒక చిలిపి బటు బ్రహ్మచారి జలసర్పాన్ని ఎత్తుకున్నాడు.
Narrator (Sūta continuing)
Scene: A Vedic sacrifice has just commenced: learned ṛtviks chant around the fire; a mischievous young brahmacārin stealthily lifts a water-snake from a vessel/nearby water source, foreshadowing chaos amid solemnity.
FAQs
Even amid perfected ritual expertise, unforeseen disruptions can arise—testing steadiness, discernment, and adherence to dharma.
The broader narrative continues in Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya (Nāgara-khaṇḍa).
No explicit prescription; it describes the yajña being conducted by learned ṛtviks and introduces an anomalous act (bringing a water-snake) that sets up the ensuing episode.