Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 4
तन्मंत्राणां च माहात्म्यं तथैव द्विजसत्तम । तत्कथायाश्च तद्भक्तेः प्रभावमनुवर्णय
tanmaṃtrāṇāṃ ca māhātmyaṃ tathaiva dvijasattama | tatkathāyāśca tadbhakteḥ prabhāvamanuvarṇaya
“ਹੇ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ ਦ੍ਵਿਜ! ਉਸ ਦੇ ਮੰਤ੍ਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਮਹਿਮਾ ਵੀ, ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਕਥਾ ਤੇ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਭਕਤੀ (ਭਕਤੀ) ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਨੂੰ ਭੀ ਵਰਣਨ ਕਰੋ।”
Ṛṣis (sages) addressing Sūta
Tirtha: Naimiṣāraṇya (implied)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Sūta (addressed as dvija-sattama)
Scene: Sages request an exposition of mantra-mahātmyam and the power of Śiva-kathā and bhakti; the scene can show three symbolic streams: mantra as sacred syllables, kathā as manuscript/recitation, bhakti as offering at a liṅga.
FAQs
Dharma is strengthened through three allied means: mantra (japa), kathā (sacred hearing), and bhakti (devotional commitment).
No tīrtha is specified; the verse introduces mantra- and kathā-centered māhātmya.
Mantra practice (japa) is implied, alongside listening to and recounting sacred kathā.