Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 57
इहार्थे च पुरा प्रोक्तं इतिहासो द्विजोत्तमाः । प्रद्युम्नेन सुसंवादे मार्कण्डेन महात्मना
ihārthe ca purā proktaṃ itihāso dvijottamāḥ | pradyumnena susaṃvāde mārkaṇḍena mahātmanā
Hỡi bậc tối thượng trong hàng nhị sinh, ngay trong mối liên hệ này, một thánh sử cổ xưa đã từng được thuật lại—trong cuộc đối thoại tuyệt diệu giữa Pradyumna và bậc đại hồn, hiền thánh Mārkaṇḍeya.
Narrator (contextual Purāṇic voice)
Tirtha: Dvārakā (implied)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Brāhmaṇas (dvija-uttamāḥ)
Scene: A narrative hinge: the narrator announces an ancient itihāsa to be told, highlighting the exemplary dialogue between Pradyumna and sage Mārkaṇḍeya; the scene shows two dignified figures in discourse, with listeners poised.
FAQs
Sacred geography is best received through authentic lineage narratives—Purāṇic truth is transmitted via revered dialogues and ancient itihāsa.
Dvārakā is being introduced as the central sacred locus, with its greatness to be established through an ancient dialogue.
No explicit ritual is prescribed in this verse; it sets the authority and source of the forthcoming māhātmya.