Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 85
यस्मिन्राष्ट्रोऽथ वा देशे ग्रामे चापि विचक्षणः । शिवभक्तो न दृश्येत स्मशानात्तु विशिष्यते । तद्राष्ट्रं देशमित्याहुः सत्यं प्रतिवदामि वः
yasminrāṣṭro'tha vā deśe grāme cāpi vicakṣaṇaḥ | śivabhakto na dṛśyeta smaśānāttu viśiṣyate | tadrāṣṭraṃ deśamityāhuḥ satyaṃ prativadāmi vaḥ
ଯେ କୌଣସି ରାଜ୍ୟ, ଦେଶ କିମ୍ବା ଗ୍ରାମରେ ବିଚକ୍ଷଣ ଶିବଭକ୍ତ ଦେଖାଯାଏ ନାହିଁ, ସେ ଭୂମି ଶ୍ମଶାନଠାରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅଧମ। ସେହିଁ ‘ଦେଶ’ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଏ—ଏହି ସତ୍ୟ ମୁଁ ତୁମକୁ କହୁଛି।
Yama/Kāla
Listener: Dūtas
Scene: A map-like sweep of kingdoms and villages contrasted: one with a visible Śiva-bhakta radiating calm; another empty of devotion, shown as bleak like a śmaśāna; narrator asserts truth.
FAQs
A community’s spiritual vitality is measured by living devotion; absence of Śiva-bhakti is portrayed as spiritual desolation.
The statement is general, delivered within Kedārakhaṇḍa’s sacred frame rather than naming a single tirtha.
No single ritual; it emphasizes the presence and value of Śiva-bhaktas as a dhārmic necessity.