Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 20
ततस्ते विबुधाः सर्वे तल्लिंगं प्रणिपत्य च । प्रतिजग्मुस्तुष्टियुक्ताः शस्त्राण्यादाय तान्प्रति
tataste vibudhāḥ sarve talliṃgaṃ praṇipatya ca | pratijagmustuṣṭiyuktāḥ śastrāṇyādāya tānprati
Kemudian semua dewa itu menunduk sujud kepada liṅga tersebut, lalu berangkat semula dengan hati yang puas, mengangkat senjata untuk menghadapi musuh-musuh itu.
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A group of devas, weapons lowered, bow in unison before a radiant Śiva-liṅga; then they rise, faces calm yet determined, lifting weapons as they march toward the enemy.
FAQs
Reverence to the sacred liṅga is shown as the foundation for righteous action—devotion precedes and sanctifies dharmic struggle.
The shrine housing 'that liṅga' in the Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narrative is the locus of glory, though unnamed in this verse.
Praṇipāta (prostration) and darśana of the liṅga are implied acts of worship before undertaking an important duty.