Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 72
वाराणसीं च केदारं किं स्मरंति वृथैव ते । तत्राराध्य भवं देवं भवान्नन्दीति नामभृत्
vārāṇasīṃ ca kedāraṃ kiṃ smaraṃti vṛthaiva te | tatrārādhya bhavaṃ devaṃ bhavānnandīti nāmabhṛt
वे व्यर्थ ही वाराणसी और केदार को क्यों स्मरण करते हैं? वहाँ भव-देव (शिव) की आराधना करके वह ‘भवान्नन्दी’ नाम से प्रसिद्ध हुआ।
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Arbuda
Type: kshetra
Scene: A teacher gestures toward a Śiva shrine on Arbuda, admonishing pilgrims who keep speaking of Kāśī and Kedāra; Śiva as Bhava is worshiped, and a devotee receives the honorific name ‘Bhavān-nandī’.
FAQs
True remembrance of famous tīrthas is fulfilled by actual devotion and worship of Śiva, which grants lasting spiritual renown and merit.
The context glorifies Arbuda (Mount Abu/Arbudācala), while referencing Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) and Kedāra as celebrated comparanda.
Ārādhana (worship) of Bhava/Śiva—devotional worship at the sacred place.