Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 67
दरिद्रः प्रार्थयेदेवं पूजांते गिरिजापतिम् । अर्थाढ्यो वापि राजा वा प्रार्थयेद्देवमीश्वरम्
daridraḥ prārthayedevaṃ pūjāṃte girijāpatim | arthāḍhyo vāpi rājā vā prārthayeddevamīśvaram
ଏହିପରି ପୂଜାନ୍ତେ ଦରିଦ୍ର ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ଗିରିଜାପତିଙ୍କୁ ଏଭଳି ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରୁ; ଧନୀ ହେଉ କି ରାଜା—ସମସ୍ତେ ଦେବେଶ୍ୱର, ପରମ ଅଧିପତିଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରିବା ଉଚିତ।
Narratorial voice (instruction concluding the prayer section)
Scene: Inside a temple, a poor devotee and a crowned king stand side by side with folded hands before Girijā-pati; the priest concludes ārati; social distinctions fade in the shared lamplight.
FAQs
Śiva-bhakti is universal—social status does not limit one’s right to worship and pray.
No particular tīrtha is mentioned; the instruction applies broadly to Śiva worship in any sacred setting.
At the end of pūjā, one should recite the prescribed prayer to Girijā-pati/Īśvara.