Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 28
एकदा शिवपूजायै प्रवृत्तः शबरोत्तमः । न ददर्श चिताभस्म पात्रे पूरितमण्वपि
ekadā śivapūjāyai pravṛttaḥ śabarottamaḥ | na dadarśa citābhasma pātre pūritamaṇvapi
Однажды, когда лучший из шабаров приступил к поклонению Шиве, он не увидел в своём сосуде даже малейшей крупицы пепла погребального костра.
Sūta (continuing narration)
Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya ṛṣis (frame implied)
Scene: The Śabara opens his small vessel expecting ash; it is empty. His face shows surprise and anxious devotion; the liṅga stands ready for worship, lamp lit, offerings arranged except for the missing bhasma.
FAQs
Devotion is tested when customary supports are missing; the devotee’s sincerity must find a way forward.
No holy site is mentioned; the narrative focuses on a devotee’s worship and an unexpected lack of ritual material.
It implies the regular use of citā-bhasma in Śiva worship, and introduces a situation where it is unavailable.