Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 66
जनहास्यकरं सर्वं त्वयारब्धमसांप्रतम् । स्त्रीभावाद्भूतिसंपर्क्कः कथं चाभिमतस्तव
janahāsyakaraṃ sarvaṃ tvayārabdhamasāṃpratam | strībhāvādbhūtisaṃparkkaḥ kathaṃ cābhimatastava
तुम्हारा यह समस्त आरम्भ असमय है और जन-हास्य का कारण बनता है। और स्त्रीभाव में रहते हुए तुम्हें भस्म का संसर्ग कैसे प्रिय हो सकता है?
A brahmacārin critic (implied to be Śiva in disguise) addressing Pārvatī
Listener: Pārvatī
Scene: Ascetics warn that Pārvatī’s actions invite laughter and question her desire to touch sacred ash; Pārvatī stands poised, absorbing insult, with bhasma and śūla imagery implied.
FAQs
Social mockery and conventional notions of propriety are obstacles; sincere devotion transcends them.
No tīrtha is mentioned.
Only a reference to bhūti (sacred ash) as a Shaiva mark; no explicit ritual instruction appears.