Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 40
आढ्यो वापि दरिद्रो वा उत्तमो ह्यधमोऽपि वा । शिवभक्तिरतो नित्यं शिव एव न संशयः
āḍhyo vāpi daridro vā uttamo hyadhamo'pi vā | śivabhaktirato nityaṃ śiva eva na saṃśayaḥ
سواء كان المرء غنيًّا أو فقيرًا، شريفًا أو وضيعًا—فمن كان مواظبًا دائمًا على بهاكتي شيفا فهو حقًّا شيفا نفسه؛ لا ريب في ذلك.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced)
Tirtha: Kedāra / Kedārakṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A rich patron and a poor pilgrim stand side by side offering bilva and water to a Śiva-linga; Śiva’s light equally blesses both; attendants and priests show equal reverence; inscription-like emphasis: ‘Śivabhaktaḥ śiva eva’.
FAQs
Social status is irrelevant; unwavering devotion to Śiva is the true mark of spiritual greatness.
Set within Kedārakhaṇḍa, it supports Kedāra’s Śaiva ethos, though the teaching is broadly applicable.
The prescription is continuous Śiva-bhakti (regular devotion), rather than a single external rite.