Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 122
ततो राजा मुनिश्चैव दारूण्याहृत्य पावकम् । प्रवेष्टुकामौ तौ दृष्ट्वा बको वचनमब्रवीत्
tato rājā muniścaiva dārūṇyāhṛtya pāvakam | praveṣṭukāmau tau dṛṣṭvā bako vacanamabravīt
แล้วพระราชาและมุนีได้รวบรวมฟืนและก่อไฟขึ้น ครั้นเห็นทั้งสองมุ่งจะก้าวเข้าสู่ไฟ นกบกะจึงกล่าวถ้อยคำขึ้น
Sūta (narrator, implied continuation)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Śaunaka and other ṛṣis (implied)
Scene: A king and a sage gather dry wood, kindle a fire in a clearing; their faces show unwavering resolve. The bird Baka approaches, poised to speak and halt the act.
FAQs
Before irreversible actions are taken, dharmic intervention—timely speech and guidance—can redirect fate toward auspicious outcomes.
Not specified in this verse; it is part of the larger tīrtha-focused chapter narrative.
No prescribed rite; the act described is preparing a fire to enter, which is presented as a crisis point in the story.