Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 29
क्व देवः पुंडरीकाक्षः सांप्रतं वर्तते मुने । विष्णुस्थानानि सर्वाणि वीक्षितानि समंततः । आवाभ्यां संप्रहृष्टाभ्यां न संदृष्टः स केशवः
kva devaḥ puṃḍarīkākṣaḥ sāṃprataṃ vartate mune | viṣṇusthānāni sarvāṇi vīkṣitāni samaṃtataḥ | āvābhyāṃ saṃprahṛṣṭābhyāṃ na saṃdṛṣṭaḥ sa keśavaḥ
‘ข้าแต่มุนี บัดนี้พระผู้เป็นเจ้าผู้มีเนตรดุจดอกบัวประทับอยู่ ณ ที่ใด? พวกข้าพเจ้าได้เที่ยวตรวจดูสถานที่ทั้งปวงอันเป็นของพระวิษณุโดยรอบแล้ว; ถึงกระนั้น แม้แสวงหาด้วยความปีติ ก็ยังมิได้เห็นพระเกศวะนั้น’
Vipra (the brāhmaṇa seeker), addressing Nārada
Tirtha: Viṣṇu-sthānas (collective)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Two seekers, hands folded, faces strained with longing, ask Nārada where Puṇḍarīkākṣa dwells now; behind them, faint silhouettes of many shrines suggest their extensive travels, yet the deity remains unseen.
FAQs
Even extensive pilgrimage must mature into right direction and grace; yearning for darśana seeks guidance from the wise.
All ‘Viṣṇu-sthānas’ are referenced collectively; the immediate answer points to a particular kṣetra in the next verse.
No explicit ritual; the devotional practice emphasized is darśana-seeking and inquiry to a sage.