Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 14
तस्माद्यस्य मनोरागो यस्मिन्देवे भवेत्स्फुटम् । स तं भजेद्विपापः स्यान्ममेदं मतमुत्तमम्
tasmādyasya manorāgo yasmindeve bhavetsphuṭam | sa taṃ bhajedvipāpaḥ syānmamedaṃ matamuttamam
Darum: Zu welcher Gottheit das Herz eines Menschen sich klar hingezogen fühlt, eben diese soll er verehren; so wird er von Sünde frei. Dies ist meine höchste, wohlbedachte Ansicht.
Mahākāla (contextual continuity within the dialogue)
Scene: A teacher declares: 'Whichever deity your heart loves—worship that one'; the scene emphasizes inner devotion over external dispute, with a calm, luminous focus on the devotee’s heart.
FAQs
Sincere, clear-hearted devotion to one’s chosen deity (iṣṭa-devatā) is upheld as a direct means to become free from sin.
No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; the focus is on the principle of devotion rather than sacred geography.
The prescription is devotional worship (bhajana/upāsanā) of the deity toward whom one’s heart naturally inclines.