Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 46
कस्त्वं मत्स्योदरस्थश्च देवो यक्षोऽथ मानुषः । कथं जीवसि देहांतर्गतो मम वद प्रभो
kastvaṃ matsyodarasthaśca devo yakṣo'tha mānuṣaḥ | kathaṃ jīvasi dehāṃtargato mama vada prabho
“تو کون ہے—مچھلی کے پیٹ میں بسنے والا—دیوتا، یکش یا انسان؟ جسم کے اندر داخل ہو کر تو کیسے زندہ رہتا ہے؟ مجھے بتا، اے پرَبھو!”
Maheśvara (Śiva) speaking within Brahmā’s narration
Type: kshetra
Scene: Maheśvara, radiant yet composed, addresses the mysterious being within the fish: ‘Who are you—deva, yakṣa, or human? How do you live inside a body?’ The fish is stilled; the moment is charged with suspense and inquiry.
FAQs
Purāṇic tīrtha stories use wonder and inquiry to reveal hidden divine causes behind extraordinary events.
Not specified in this verse; it continues the same city/Kṣīrasāgara episode within Tīrthamāhātmya.
None; this is a narrative question within a divine dialogue.