Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 10
शिवभक्तियुतो मर्त्यश्चांडालः पुल्कसोपि च । नारी नरो वा षंढो वा सद्यो मुच्येत संसृतेः
śivabhaktiyuto martyaścāṃḍālaḥ pulkasopi ca | nārī naro vā ṣaṃḍho vā sadyo mucyeta saṃsṛteḥ
كلُّ بشرٍ متّصفٍ بعبادة شِيفا—ولو كان من التشاندالا أو البولكاسا؛ امرأةً كان أو رجلًا أو ذا جنسٍ ملتبس—يُعتَق في الحال من دوران التناسخ.
Sūta (deduced; Brāhma/Brahmottara narrative style)
Scene: Śiva as compassionate lord extending blessing-hand to a diverse group: a caṇḍāla devotee, a pulkasa, women and men, and an intersex/ambiguous-sex devotee—each with folded hands; chains of saṃsāra breaking behind them.
FAQs
Śiva-bhakti is spiritually decisive and surpasses social identity, opening liberation to all.
None is named in this verse; it supports the broader Śaiva-māhātmya that later anchors to Ujjayinī/Mahākāla.
The emphasis is on possessing and cultivating Śiva-bhakti (devotion), rather than a specific rite.