Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5
को होता कश्च वाऽग्नीध्रः को ब्रह्मा तत्र संस्थितः । उद्गाता कः स्थितस्तत्र ह्याचार्यो यज्ञकर्मणि
ko hotā kaśca vā'gnīdhraḥ ko brahmā tatra saṃsthitaḥ | udgātā kaḥ sthitastatra hyācāryo yajñakarmaṇi
وہاں ہوتَر کون تھا اور اَگْنِی دھْر کون؟ وہاں برہما (نگران پجاری) کی حیثیت سے کون بیٹھا تھا؟ اور وہاں اُدْگاتَر کون کھڑا تھا—یعنی یَجْیَہ کے عمل میں آچاریہ کون تھا؟
Sages (Ṛṣis) questioning Sūta
Type: kshetra
Listener: dvijapuṅgava-s / brāhmaṇa audience
Scene: A catalog-like inquiry naming the key priestly offices, as if assembling a sacred roster; the scene evokes a grand yajña with multiple stations around the fire-altar.
FAQs
Sacred acts gain fullness when performed with right order, qualified guides, and faithful observance of established ritual roles.
This verse supports the broader tīrtha-māhātmya account in Adhyāya 180; the tīrtha is contextual to the chapter rather than specified here.
It emphasizes the complete Vedic setup of a yajña—Hotṛ, Agnīdhra, Brahmā, Udgātṛ, and an ācārya guiding the rite.