Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 1
ऋषय ऊचुः । यदुक्तं भवता सूत महदाख्यानमद्भुतम् । शम्भोर्माहात्म्यकथनमशेषाघहरं परम्
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | yaduktaṃ bhavatā sūta mahadākhyānamadbhutam | śambhormāhātmyakathanamaśeṣāghaharaṃ param
ऋषी म्हणाले—हे सूत! तुम्ही सांगितलेले हे महान् व अद्भुत आख्यान, शंभूच्या माहात्म्याचे परम कथन आहे; ते सर्व पापांचा निःशेष नाश करणारे आहे।
Ṛṣis (Sages)
Listener: Ṛṣis
Scene: Forest hermitage assembly: sages seated in a semicircle, addressing Sūta with folded hands; a subtle aura of Śiva (trident, crescent moon motif) implied behind the narration as the ‘sin-destroying’ power of the tale.
FAQs
Śiva-māhātmya heard with faith is itself a purifier, capable of dissolving accumulated sin.
No site is specified; the verse glorifies Śambhu’s māhātmya (greatness) in general.
The implied sādhana is śravaṇa (devotional listening) of Śiva’s greatness as a sin-removing act.