Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 34
श्रीरुद्र उवाच । सर्वेषामपि धर्माणामुत्तमं श्रुतिचोदितम् । रहस्यं सर्वजंतूनां यत्त्रिपुंड्रस्य धारणम्
śrīrudra uvāca | sarveṣāmapi dharmāṇāmuttamaṃ śruticoditam | rahasyaṃ sarvajaṃtūnāṃ yattripuṃḍrasya dhāraṇam
ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਰੁਦ੍ਰ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ: ਸਭ ਧਰਮਾਂ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਉੱਤਮ—ਵੇਦਾਂ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਆਦੇਸ਼ਿਤ—ਇਹੀ ਗੁਪਤ ਤੱਤ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸਭ ਜੀਵਾਂ ਲਈ ਤ੍ਰਿਪੁੰਡ੍ਰ ਦਾ ਧਾਰਣ ਕਰਨਾ।
Rudra (Śiva)
Listener: Sanatkumāra (and by extension all beings)
Scene: Rudra speaks authoritatively, proclaiming Tripuṇḍra as the highest dharma; the ash mark is visually emphasized on his forehead and on attentive sages.
FAQs
Śaiva identity and inner renunciation are upheld through the Tripuṇḍra, presented as a Veda-sanctioned supreme dharma.
No site is named; the verse glorifies a universal Śaiva observance rather than a location.
Wearing the Tripuṇḍra (three ash lines/vibhūti mark) is declared the foremost dharma.