Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 17
शूद्रोऽपि द्विजशुश्रूषुस्तोषयित्वा महेश्वरम् । विमुच्य नान्यथा पापः पतते नरके ध्रुवम्
śūdro'pi dvijaśuśrūṣustoṣayitvā maheśvaram | vimucya nānyathā pāpaḥ patate narake dhruvam
शूद्र देखील द्विजांच्या सेवेत तत्पर राहून आणि महेश्वराला प्रसन्न करून पापमुक्त होतो. अन्यथा त्याचे पाप जात नाही आणि तो नक्कीच नरकात पडतो.
Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya (continuing reply)
Tirtha: Revā-kṣetra (general)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A humble attendant serves brāhmaṇas and then offers flowers and water to a Śiva-liṅga; in the background, a shadowy depiction of naraka serves as moral contrast.
FAQs
Humble service and devotion that pleases Śiva are upheld as purifying; neglect of dharma leads to downfall.
No particular tīrtha is named; the focus is on conduct and devotion to Maheśvara.
Service to the dvijas and devotion that ‘pleases Maheśvara’ are prescribed as the means of purification.