Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 10
यस्यांगे नास्ति रुद्राक्ष एकोपि बहुपुण्यदः । तस्य जन्म निरर्थं स्यात्त्रिपुंड्ररहितं यदि
yasyāṃge nāsti rudrākṣa ekopi bahupuṇyadaḥ | tasya janma nirarthaṃ syāttripuṃḍrarahitaṃ yadi
ज्याच्या अंगावर एकही रुद्राक्ष नाही—जो बहुपुण्यदायक आहे—आणि जो त्रिपुंड्र (भस्माच्या तीन रेषा)रहित आहे, त्याचा जन्म निष्फळ ठरतो।
Unknown (narrative voice within Brahmottara Khaṇḍa; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa addressing sages)
Listener: Ṛṣis/assembly (generic)
Scene: A Śaiva devotee stands after morning rites, tripuṇḍra bright on forehead and limbs, a single rudrākṣa bead visible; surrounding figures without marks appear spiritually ‘unawakened’.
FAQs
Shaiva identity and devotion are affirmed through sacred emblems—rudrākṣa and Tripuṇḍra—held to confer merit and purpose in life.
No specific tīrtha is named; the verse praises Shaiva devotional markers as universally meritorious.
To wear at least one rudrākṣa and to apply the Tripuṇḍra (three ash-lines) as a Shaiva observance.