Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 163
मंत्रा दैवता यद्यद्विद्वान्मन्त्रवत्करोति देवताभिरेव तत्करोति यद्ददानि देवतभिरेव तद्ददाति यत्प्रतिगृह्णाति देवताभिरेव तत्प्रतिगृह्णाति तस्मान्नामन्त्रवत्प्रतिगृह्णीयात् नामन्त्रवत्प्रतिपद्यते इति
maṃtrā daivatā yadyadvidvānmantravatkaroti devatābhireva tatkaroti yaddadāni devatabhireva taddadāti yatpratigṛhṇāti devatābhireva tatpratigṛhṇāti tasmānnāmantravatpratigṛhṇīyāt nāmantravatpratipadyate iti
“Mantras are the very deities. Whatever a learned person performs with mantra, he performs it through the deities themselves. Whatever he gives, he gives through the deities; whatever he receives, he receives through the deities. Therefore one should not accept without mantra; one should not proceed in ritual action without mantra”—so it is declared.
Mahākāla quoting Śruti/authoritative statement (contextual)
Listener: King (nṛpa)
Scene: A metaphysical visualization: mantras as radiant deities emerging from the mouth/heart of the learned ritualist; offerings passing through luminous forms into the recipient’s hands.
FAQs
Mantra is not mere sound; it is the divine presence enabling giving and receiving to become sacred and efficacious.
No specific tīrtha is referenced; the passage is a general śāstric rule on mantra and ritual validity.
Do not give or accept (dāna/pratigraha) without mantra; ritual action should be mantra-accompanied.