Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 17
जटाधरस्तपस्यंश्च शिवाराधनतत्परः । इत्थं मे कुर्वतो जातं पुनर्भूप प्रमापणम्
jaṭādharastapasyaṃśca śivārādhanatatparaḥ | itthaṃ me kurvato jātaṃ punarbhūpa pramāpaṇam
जटाधारी होऊन, तपस्येत प्रवृत्त आणि शिवआराधनेत तत्पर असताना—अशा प्रकारे आचरण करत असता, हे राजन्, मला पुन्हा एकदा मृत्यु आला.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating (contextual deduction within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa)
Listener: King (bhūpa)
Scene: A jaṭādhara ascetic, ash-smeared, absorbed in Śiva-pūjā; a subtle, shadow-like figure of Death approaches, while the ascetic remains composed—signaling inevitability and inner steadiness.
FAQs
Even with tapas and devotion, the cycle of death continues until higher realization; sustained Śiva-bhakti remains the guiding path.
No site is specified; the verse centers on ascetic devotion to Śiva.
Austerity (tapas), jaṭā-dhāraṇa, and dedicated Śivārādhana are described as a devotional regimen.