Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 103
अघोरवक्त्रं त्रितयं प्रपद्ये अथर्वजुष्टं तव रूपकाणि । अघोरघोराणि च घोरघोराण्यहं सदानौमि भूतानि तुभ्यम्
aghoravaktraṃ tritayaṃ prapadye atharvajuṣṭaṃ tava rūpakāṇi | aghoraghorāṇi ca ghoraghorāṇyahaṃ sadānaumi bhūtāni tubhyam
ਮੈਂ ਤੇਰੇ ਅਘੋਰ ਮੁਖ—ਤੀਜੇ—ਦੀ ਸ਼ਰਣ ਲੈਂਦਾ ਹਾਂ; ਅਥਰਵ ਵੇਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਕੀਤੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਰੂਪ। ਚਾਹੇ ਅਘੋਰ ਹੋਣ ਜਾਂ ਘੋਰ, ਮੈਂ ਸਦਾ ਤੇਰੇ ਅਧੀਨ ਚਲਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸਭ ਭੂਤ-ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਤੇਰੇ ਲਈ ਨਮਸਕਾਰ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ।
A dvija devotee (as implied by the immediate narrative context)
Scene: Śiva’s Aghora face appears luminous yet formidable; around him are bhūta-gaṇas—yakṣas, piśācas, pramathas—rendered not as mere horrors but as disciplined attendants; the devotee bows without fear.
FAQs
Śiva encompasses both the benign and the fearsome; reverence to Him includes honoring the cosmic hosts (bhūtas) under His command.
No explicit tirtha is named; the focus is on Śiva’s Aghora aspect and His attendants.
Perpetual reverence (sadā naumi) and refuge-taking (prapadye) are emphasized, reflecting devotional discipline.