Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 10
यस्यांगे नास्ति रुद्राक्ष एकोपि बहुपुण्यदः । तस्य जन्म निरर्थं स्यात्त्रिपुंड्ररहितं यदि
yasyāṃge nāsti rudrākṣa ekopi bahupuṇyadaḥ | tasya janma nirarthaṃ syāttripuṃḍrarahitaṃ yadi
Si en el cuerpo de una persona no hay ni siquiera un solo rudrākṣa—que otorga abundante mérito—y además está sin el Tripuṇḍra, las tres líneas de ceniza, entonces su mismo nacimiento se vuelve estéril.
Unknown (narrative voice within Brahmottara Khaṇḍa; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa addressing sages)
Listener: Ṛṣis/assembly (generic)
Scene: A Śaiva devotee stands after morning rites, tripuṇḍra bright on forehead and limbs, a single rudrākṣa bead visible; surrounding figures without marks appear spiritually ‘unawakened’.
FAQs
Shaiva identity and devotion are affirmed through sacred emblems—rudrākṣa and Tripuṇḍra—held to confer merit and purpose in life.
No specific tīrtha is named; the verse praises Shaiva devotional markers as universally meritorious.
To wear at least one rudrākṣa and to apply the Tripuṇḍra (three ash-lines) as a Shaiva observance.