Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 12
स पुनर्देहमास्थाय जीवन्स्म प्रत्यदृश्यत । ततो वातापिरपि तं छागं कृत्वा सुसंस्कृतम् । ब्राह्मणं भोजयित्वा तु पुनरेव समाह्वयत्
sa punardehamāsthāya jīvansma pratyadṛśyata | tato vātāpirapi taṃ chāgaṃ kṛtvā susaṃskṛtam | brāhmaṇaṃ bhojayitvā tu punareva samāhvayat
เขากลับมาถือกายอีกครั้งและปรากฏให้เห็นว่ายังมีชีวิตอยู่ แล้ววาตาปีก็แปลงเป็นแพะที่จัดเตรียมไว้อย่างดี ครั้นเลี้ยงภัตตาหารแก่พราหมณ์แล้ว ก็ถูกเรียกกลับมาอีกครั้ง
Narrator (within the Prabhāsa-kṣetra Māhātmya frame)
Tirtha: प्रभासक्षेत्र
Type: kshetra
Listener: देवी (उमा/पार्वती) — ‘देवि’ सम्बोधनानुसार
Scene: Ilvala’s deception: Vātāpi assumes the form of a well-cooked goat offered as food; a brāhmaṇa is fed, while the asura’s trick is set in motion—ominous calm before violence.
FAQs
The verse depicts repeated deception against the righteous, underscoring why discernment and divine protection are essential in Kali-like conduct.
The surrounding chapter belongs to Prabhāsa-kṣetra Māhātmya, situating the episode within Prabhāsa’s sacred landscape.
Bhojana (feeding) is mentioned, but as a narrative element; the dharmic ideal is implied—hospitality must be free of हिंसा (violence) and deceit.