Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 180
उपाधिरहिता च येऽपि चैव मनस्विनः । तेऽतीव मे प्रिया भक्तास्ते विशिष्टा नरोत्तमाः
upādhirahitā ca ye'pi caiva manasvinaḥ | te'tīva me priyā bhaktāste viśiṣṭā narottamāḥ
Mereka yang bebas daripada upādhi—label dan perbezaan duniawi—serta teguh hatinya; para bhakta demikian amatlah Kukasihi, merekalah insan paling mulia dan terunggul.
Mahādeva (Śiva)
Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedārakṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Kirāta (and by extension pilgrims/devotees)
Scene: Śiva delivers a serene teaching: devotees free of upādhis and firm in mind are dearest; the scene is calm, didactic, and luminous, with the Himalayas as silent witness.
FAQs
The highest devotion is inwardly free, steady, and unconditioned by social or ego-based identities.
Kedāra is the narrative backdrop; the teaching elevates Kedāra as a seat of Śiva’s dharmic instruction.
No specific rite; it prescribes a devotional attitude—steadfastness and freedom from upādhis.