Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 18
क्वाहं पापमतिर्घोरः सर्वप्राणिभयंकरः । क्व ते महानुभावस्य दर्शनं करुणात्मनः
kvāhaṃ pāpamatirghoraḥ sarvaprāṇibhayaṃkaraḥ | kva te mahānubhāvasya darśanaṃ karuṇātmanaḥ
ข้าคือผู้ใด—ผู้มีจิตบาป น่ากลัว เป็นภัยแก่สรรพชีวิต? แล้วนิมิตแห่งการได้เห็นท่านนี้คืออะไร—ผู้มีมหาบารมี ผู้มีพระทัยกรุณา? (คนเช่นข้าจะได้เฝ้าท่านได้อย่างไร)
Rākṣasa (speaking to Vāmadeva)
Listener: Śaunaka and other ṛṣis (frame); immediate listener is Vāmadeva
Scene: A fearsome rākṣasa, dark and rugged, stands with folded hands, eyes lowered in shame, before a serene, radiant sage whose face is compassionate; the forest backdrop is still, as if listening.
FAQs
Even the gravely sinful awaken to humility when they encounter a truly compassionate saintly presence; remorse is the doorway to upliftment.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; the emphasis is on the transformative power of darśana (holy encounter).
None is stated here; the verse focuses on inner contrition rather than an external rite.