Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4
के यूयं विकृताकारा मया दृष्टा न कर्हिचित् । एवंविधा नृलोकेऽत्र भ्रमता प्राग्विभीषणाः
ke yūyaṃ vikṛtākārā mayā dṛṣṭā na karhicit | evaṃvidhā nṛloke'tra bhramatā prāgvibhīṣaṇāḥ
"Các ngươi là ai mà hình thù kỳ dị thế? Ta chưa từng thấy những kẻ như các ngươi bao giờ. Tại sao những kẻ đáng sợ như vậy lại lang thang ở chốn nhân gian này?"
King Vidūratha (identified in the next verse; deduced here as the questioner)
Scene: The king addresses the three distorted beings, pointing or gesturing in inquiry; the pretas stand/hover with grotesque features, creating a stark contrast between human order and uncanny disorder.
FAQs
Right inquiry begins with confronting the uncanny; asking ‘who are you?’ opens the path to understanding karma, suffering, and remedial dharma.
No site is named; the verse is part of the approach narrative that leads into tīrtha-centered instruction.
None; it is a direct question initiating the teaching exchange.