Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 191
तत्र संतिष्ठते गृध्रः स च मे परमः सुहृत् । चिरंतनस्तथा सम्यक्स ते ज्ञास्यति तं नृपम् । कथयिष्यत्यसंदिग्धं मम वाक्यादसंशयम्
tatra saṃtiṣṭhate gṛdhraḥ sa ca me paramaḥ suhṛt | ciraṃtanastathā samyaksa te jñāsyati taṃ nṛpam | kathayiṣyatyasaṃdigdhaṃ mama vākyādasaṃśayam
وہاں ایک گِدھ رہتا ہے، اور وہ میرا سب سے بڑا دوست ہے—قدیم اور صاحبِ بصیرت۔ وہ اس بادشاہ کو ٹھیک طرح پہچان لے گا، اور میرے کہنے کے مطابق بات کو بے شک و شبہ بیان کرے گا، کسی تردد کے بغیر۔
Ulūka (owl)
Tirtha: Gandhamādana
Type: peak
Listener: null
Scene: On a high crag of Gandhamādana sits an ancient vulture, calm and wise; Ulūka introduces the approaching king. The vulture’s gaze is penetrating yet benevolent, suggesting discernment and assured speech.
FAQs
Right knowledge is obtained through trustworthy guides; even unusual beings in Purāṇas can serve dharma as reliable counselors.
Mount Gandhamādana is the implied sacred locus where the ancient guide (the vulture) resides.
None explicitly; the instruction is to consult the ancient being residing at the sacred mountain.