Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 16
अहंपूर्वमहंपूर्वं वीक्षयिष्यामि तं हरम् । इति श्रद्धासमो पेताश्चक्रुस्ते शपथं गताः
ahaṃpūrvamahaṃpūrvaṃ vīkṣayiṣyāmi taṃ haram | iti śraddhāsamo petāścakruste śapathaṃ gatāḥ
“میں پہلے! میں پہلے اُس ہَر کو دیکھوں گا!”—یوں ایمان کی رو میں بہہ کر انہوں نے آپس میں قسم کھائی اور چل پڑے۔
Skanda (deduced)
Tirtha: Rudrakoṭi (implied)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Pilgrims in a dense throng, hands raised, voices overlapping—each declaring, ‘I shall see Hara first!’—as they bind themselves with an impulsive oath.
FAQs
Even sincere devotion can become mixed with rivalry; the narrative prepares a dharmic correction toward humility.
The setting remains the Camatkārapura/Rudrakoṭi tīrtha context where Śiva’s darśana is sought.
An oath (śapatha) is mentioned as a social-religious act, though not prescribed as a formal rite.