Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 53
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य मासादावपि भूपतेः । प्रारब्धे शांतिके तस्मिन्महाव्याधिरजायत
kasyacittvatha kālasya māsādāvapi bhūpateḥ | prārabdhe śāṃtike tasminmahāvyādhirajāyata
แต่ครั้นถึงกาลหนึ่ง ข้าแต่พระราชา แม้ในยามต้นเดือน เมื่อพิธีศานติ (śānti) เพื่อพระองค์ได้เริ่มดำเนินแล้ว ก็เกิดโรคร้ายแรงยิ่งขึ้นมา
Narrator within Nāgarakhaṇḍa
Scene: A king begins a śānti observance at month’s opening; ominous signs gather as a sudden grievous illness strikes, attendants alarmed, astrologers and priests consulted.
FAQs
Even amid righteous observance, trials may arise; the narrative frames adversity as a moment that deepens faith and tests steadfastness in dharma.
The verse continues the Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya storyline; the site is not newly specified in this line.
It notes the śānti observance had already begun; the new development is the arising of a severe illness at the month’s start.