Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 36
कति स्थानानि किं द्रव्यं का शक्तिः का च देवता । किं प्रमाणं च कः कर्त्ता के मंत्रास्तस्य किं फलम्
kati sthānāni kiṃ dravyaṃ kā śaktiḥ kā ca devatā | kiṃ pramāṇaṃ ca kaḥ karttā ke maṃtrāstasya kiṃ phalam
How many places (on the body) are there? What is the substance? What is its power, and which deity is to be contemplated? What is the measure, who is qualified to perform it, what mantras belong to it, and what is its fruit?
Sanatkumāra
Listener: Maheshvara (Rudra/Shiva)
Scene: A didactic tableau with symbolic icons floating or arranged: ash vessel (dravya), trident and damaru (shakti), Shiva-linga or Rudra form (devata), measuring lines on forehead (pramana), a sacred thread and initiation marks (adhikara), and mantra scrolls (mantra).
FAQs
A sacred practice is complete only when understood in method, meaning, mantra, qualification, and intended fruit.
No holy site is referenced; the verse is a technical inquiry into the Tripuṇḍra observance.
It enumerates the required ritual parameters: bodily locations, material (dravya), deity, measure, performer, mantras, and fruit.