Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 13
एवं स्तुतो विरंचिस्तु कृपयाभिपरिप्लुतः । जानन्नपि तदा प्राह तेषामाश्वासहेतवे
evaṃ stuto viraṃcistu kṛpayābhipariplutaḥ | jānannapi tadā prāha teṣāmāśvāsahetave
如是受赞的毗然支（梵天）慈悲盈溢；虽早已知晓，彼时仍开口说法，只为安慰众人。
Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa style narration within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa)
Listener: Devas (implied)
Scene: Brahmā (Virañci) is shown softened by compassion—eyes gentle, hand raised in abhaya/varada—addressing a worried assembly (devas) who have just completed praise; the emotional pivot is from stuti to consoling counsel.
FAQs
Compassionate guidance is itself dharma—one may speak not to display knowledge but to steady and reassure the distressed.
No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it transitions from hymn to narrative dialogue.
None; it introduces the forthcoming explanation meant to comfort the devas.