Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 30
शबर्या वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच वृषध्वजः । मैवं वद विशालाक्षि न त्यक्ता सा तपस्विनी । यदि त्यक्ता मया तन्वि किं वक्तुमिह पार्यते
śabaryā vacanaṃ śrutvā pratyuvāca vṛṣadhvajaḥ | maivaṃ vada viśālākṣi na tyaktā sā tapasvinī | yadi tyaktā mayā tanvi kiṃ vaktumiha pāryate
Ayant entendu les paroles de Śabarī, Vṛṣadhvaja répondit : «Ne parle pas ainsi, ô toi aux grands yeux. Cette ascète n’a pas été délaissée par moi. Si je l’avais abandonnée, ô toi au corps gracile, que pourrait-on dire ici, en vérité ?»
Śiva (Vṛṣadhvaja)
Tirtha: Kedāra
Type: kshetra
Scene: Rudra, marked by the bull-banner, responds firmly yet gently to Śabarī’s words, consoling her and denying abandonment of the ascetic woman; the scene shifts from accusation to reassurance.
FAQs
Mahādeva defends the sanctity of ascetic merit and rejects the idea of abandoning a true tapasvinī.
Kedāra is the narrative frame, presenting Śiva’s dharmic conduct as part of Kedāra’s sacred greatness.
No direct ritual is stated; the verse highlights dharma—honoring and safeguarding those devoted to tapas.