Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 23
राजोवाच सत्यमेतद्द्विजश्रेष्ठा यद्भवद्भिरुदाहृतम् । रहस्यमपि वक्तव्यं युष्माकं सांप्रतं मया
rājovāca satyametaddvijaśreṣṭhā yadbhavadbhirudāhṛtam | rahasyamapi vaktavyaṃ yuṣmākaṃ sāṃprataṃ mayā
พระราชาตรัสว่า “โอ้พราหมณ์ผู้ประเสริฐ สิ่งที่ท่านกล่าวนั้นเป็นความจริง บัดนี้เราจักเปิดเผยความลับอันเกี่ยวเนื่องกับท่านทั้งหลายด้วย”
Rājā (the king)
Tirtha: Devī-āyatana (name not specified)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Dvija-śreṣṭhas (brāhmaṇas)
Scene: A king addresses assembled brāhmaṇas, affirming their statement and preparing to reveal a secret; the temple precinct frames the courtly yet sacred exchange.
FAQs
Sacred teachings are often unfolded through humility and truthful acknowledgement before the learned, followed by honest disclosure.
The setting remains within a Devī-related tīrtha/temple narrative in Nāgarakhaṇḍa; the verse itself introduces the king’s personal testimony.
No direct prescription here; it functions as a narrative transition toward explaining the power of pradakṣiṇā.