Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 1
ऋषय ऊचुः । भगवन्राक्षसः कोऽसौ सूत पौराणिकोत्तम । विष्णुभक्तं महात्मानं यो गालवमबाधत
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | bhagavanrākṣasaḥ ko'sau sūta paurāṇikottama | viṣṇubhaktaṃ mahātmānaṃ yo gālavamabādhata
เหล่าฤๅษีกล่าวว่า “ข้าแต่พระสุตะผู้ควรบูชา ผู้ยอดเยี่ยมในหมู่นักอธิบายปุราณะ รากษสตนนั้นคือผู้ใด ที่ได้คุกคามมหาตมะกาลวะ ผู้เป็นภักตะแห่งพระวิษณุ?”
Ṛṣis (assembled sages)
Listener: Sūta (paurāṇika)
Scene: A forest-assembly of sages seated in a semicircle, respectfully addressing Sūta; their faces show earnest curiosity about the rākṣasa who afflicted the Vaiṣṇava Gālava.
FAQs
Purāṇic teaching proceeds through humble inquiry: sages ask for the backstory so that dharma, devotion, and the consequences of adharma become clear.
No tīrtha is named in this verse; it functions as the narrative gateway to the Setukhaṇḍa episode connected with sacred places and their protecting power.
None; the verse establishes the question that initiates the account.