Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 1
ऋषय ऊचुः । या सा कर्णोत्पलानाम त्वयास्माकं प्रकीर्तिता । किञ्चिज्जलाश्रयं प्राप्य तपस्तपति संस्थिता । तस्याः सर्वं समाचक्ष्व यथा तपसि सा स्थिता
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | yā sā karṇotpalānāma tvayāsmākaṃ prakīrtitā | kiñcijjalāśrayaṃ prāpya tapastapati saṃsthitā | tasyāḥ sarvaṃ samācakṣva yathā tapasi sā sthitā
رِشیوں نے کہا: “وہ عورت جس کا نام کارṇوتپلا ہے، جس کا آپ نے ہمیں بیان کیا—کسی آب گاہ کے کنارے پناہ پا کر وہ تپسیا میں قائم ہے اور ریاضت کرتی ہے۔ اس کے بارے میں سب کچھ بتائیے کہ وہ تپس میں کیسے ثابت قدم رہی۔”
Ṛṣis (Sages)
Tirtha: Gaurīpāda-sparśa-sthāna (implied); jalāśraya associated with Kārṇotpalā
Type: kund
Listener: Ṛṣis
Scene: A circle of forest sages seated on kuśa grass, addressing Sūta with folded hands; in the background a calm waterbody (jalāśaya) with lotuses, suggesting the ascetic setting where Kārṇotpalā performs tapas.
FAQs
Tapas undertaken at a sanctified waterside place is treated as spiritually potent, worthy of careful remembrance and narration.
A ‘jalāśraya’ (waterside refuge) is indicated, but the excerpt does not provide the tīrtha’s proper name.
No explicit ritual is prescribed; the verse introduces an inquiry into the method and steadfastness of her austerities (tapas).