Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 10
शिवभक्तियुतो मर्त्यश्चांडालः पुल्कसोपि च । नारी नरो वा षंढो वा सद्यो मुच्येत संसृतेः
śivabhaktiyuto martyaścāṃḍālaḥ pulkasopi ca | nārī naro vā ṣaṃḍho vā sadyo mucyeta saṃsṛteḥ
ശിവഭക്തിയോടെ യുക്തനായ ഏതു മർത്ത്യനും—ചാണ്ഡാലനായാലും പുൽകസനായാലും; സ്ത്രീയായാലും പുരുഷനായാലും ഷണ്ഡനായാലും—ഉടൻ തന്നെ സംസൃതിബന്ധത്തിൽ നിന്ന് മോചിതനാകും।
Sūta (deduced; Brāhma/Brahmottara narrative style)
Scene: Śiva as compassionate lord extending blessing-hand to a diverse group: a caṇḍāla devotee, a pulkasa, women and men, and an intersex/ambiguous-sex devotee—each with folded hands; chains of saṃsāra breaking behind them.
FAQs
Śiva-bhakti is spiritually decisive and surpasses social identity, opening liberation to all.
None is named in this verse; it supports the broader Śaiva-māhātmya that later anchors to Ujjayinī/Mahākāla.
The emphasis is on possessing and cultivating Śiva-bhakti (devotion), rather than a specific rite.