Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 196
भस्मनो यदि वृक्षत्वं ज्ञायते नीरसेवनात् । शिवभक्तिविहीनस्य ततोऽस्य फलमुच्यते
bhasmano yadi vṛkṣatvaṃ jñāyate nīrasevanāt | śivabhaktivihīnasya tato'sya phalamucyate
যদি পানী সিঞ্চনে ভস্মও গছ হ’ব বুলি জনা যায়, তেন্তে শিৱভক্তিহীন জনৰ ফল তদনুযায়ী কোৱা হৈছে—নিষ্ফল আৰু বন্ধ্যা।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A symbolic scene: a person pours water onto a heap of ash; nothing sprouts. In contrast, beside it a small bilva sapling thrives near a Śiva-liṅga, indicating bhakti as the living seed.
FAQs
Without Śiva-bhakti, spiritual effort becomes barren—devotion is presented as the indispensable cause of meaningful results.
No tīrtha is specified; the verse is a general doctrinal statement within the chapter.
No specific rite; it emphasizes cultivating devotion rather than relying on external acts alone.