Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 34
कन्यकां संपरित्यज्य तवान्वयविवर्द्धिताम् । यः करिष्यति तत्पूजामाहारः स्यात्स मातृषु
kanyakāṃ saṃparityajya tavānvayavivarddhitām | yaḥ kariṣyati tatpūjāmāhāraḥ syātsa mātṛṣu
कन्येला स्वतःची मालकी समजून न ठेवता, तिला तुझ्या वंशवृद्धीची कारणीभूत मानून जो तिची पूजा करील—त्याला मातृगणांचा प्रसाद लाभेल आणि त्याची उपजीविका सुरक्षित राहील।
Śiva (continuing instruction)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A ritual scene where a devotee relinquishes possessive claim over a maiden, honoring her as lineage-blessing; Mātṛs appear as protective divine mothers bestowing sustenance and safety.
FAQs
Worship must be performed with detachment and dharmic intent; then divine protection extends even to one’s livelihood and well-being.
The instruction belongs to the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Pādukā worship context within Nāgarakhaṇḍa’s Tīrthamāhātmya.
Perform the prescribed pūjā (to the Pādukās), with renunciation of personal attachment and proper recognition of the maiden’s role.