Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 26
आराधनं तस्य केचिद्योगमार्गेण कुर्वते । दुःखसाध्यं हि तत्तेषां नित्यं शून्यमुपासताम्
ārādhanaṃ tasya kecidyogamārgeṇa kurvate | duḥkhasādhyaṃ hi tatteṣāṃ nityaṃ śūnyamupāsatām
काही जण योगमार्गाने त्यांची आराधना करतात; पण जे नित्य शून्याची उपासना करतात, त्यांच्यासाठी ती साधना खरोखरच दुःखसाध्य व कठीण आहे.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Scene: A solitary yogin attempting śūnya-dhyāna in a stark, empty space, showing strain; contrasted implicitly with a devotee before a Śiva-liṅga experiencing steadiness and ease.
FAQs
Devotion and concrete worship are presented as more accessible than severe, abstract contemplations.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the focus is on modes of worship rather than sacred geography.
Implicit contrast: prefer practicable worship of Śiva (developed explicitly in the next verses as liṅga-arcana).