Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 30
शबर्या वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच वृषध्वजः । मैवं वद विशालाक्षि न त्यक्ता सा तपस्विनी । यदि त्यक्ता मया तन्वि किं वक्तुमिह पार्यते
śabaryā vacanaṃ śrutvā pratyuvāca vṛṣadhvajaḥ | maivaṃ vada viśālākṣi na tyaktā sā tapasvinī | yadi tyaktā mayā tanvi kiṃ vaktumiha pāryate
Setelah mendengar kata-kata Śabarī, Vṛṣadhvaja menjawab: “Jangan berkata demikian, wahai yang bermata luas. Pertapa wanita itu tidak pernah Aku tinggalkan. Jika Aku telah meninggalkannya, wahai yang bertubuh ramping, apakah lagi yang dapat dikatakan di sini?”
Śiva (Vṛṣadhvaja)
Tirtha: Kedāra
Type: kshetra
Scene: Rudra, marked by the bull-banner, responds firmly yet gently to Śabarī’s words, consoling her and denying abandonment of the ascetic woman; the scene shifts from accusation to reassurance.
FAQs
Mahādeva defends the sanctity of ascetic merit and rejects the idea of abandoning a true tapasvinī.
Kedāra is the narrative frame, presenting Śiva’s dharmic conduct as part of Kedāra’s sacred greatness.
No direct ritual is stated; the verse highlights dharma—honoring and safeguarding those devoted to tapas.