Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 97
एका जीवात्मिका तत्र प्रत्यक्षा च तथापरा । द्रोग्धा भूतेषु भक्तश्च रुद्रभक्तो न स स्मृतः
ekā jīvātmikā tatra pratyakṣā ca tathāparā | drogdhā bhūteṣu bhaktaśca rudrabhakto na sa smṛtaḥ
त्या दोन रूपांपैकी एक जीवांतर्गत जीवात्मरूप आहे, आणि दुसरे प्रत्यक्ष (दृश्य) रूप. पण जो प्राण्यांशी द्रोह करतो—भक्त म्हणवला तरी—तो रुद्रभक्त मानला जात नाही.
Viṣṇu (continuing 'Śrī Bhagavān uvāca')
Listener: Skanda
Scene: A split-vision tableau: one panel shows subtle Śiva presence within beings (a luminous inner form), the other shows a visible Śiva form; beneath, a cruel/treacherous figure harming creatures is shown as ‘not a devotee’.
FAQs
Compassion and non-treachery toward living beings are essential to genuine Rudra-bhakti.
None; the verse focuses on ethical criteria for devotion.
No; it prescribes moral conduct as the foundation of devotion.