Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 16
किं तस्य बहुभिर्मंत्रैः किं तीर्थैः किं तपोऽध्वरैः । यस्योंनमः शिवायेति मंत्रो हृदयगोचरः
kiṃ tasya bahubhirmaṃtraiḥ kiṃ tīrthaiḥ kiṃ tapo'dhvaraiḥ | yasyoṃnamaḥ śivāyeti maṃtro hṛdayagocaraḥ
யாருடைய இதயத்தில் ‘ஓம் நமः சிவாய’ மந்திரம் நிலைபெற்றதோ, அவருக்கு பல மந்திரங்கள், தீர்த்தங்கள், தவம், யாகம் ஆகியவை எதற்கு?
Deductive attribution: Purāṇic narrator in Brahmottara-khaṇḍa (likely Sūta/compilational voice)
Scene: A devotee seated in meditation with the mantra glowing in the heart-lotus; around them fade symbols of many rites—sacrificial fire, pilgrimage paths, multiple mantra-scrolls—indicating their essence absorbed into the heart-mantra.
FAQs
When the Śiva-mantra becomes inwardly established, it is portrayed as sufficient compared to external multiplicity of rites.
No single tīrtha is praised; rather, the verse relativizes tīrtha-travel in comparison to heart-established mantra.
Internalization and japa of ‘Oṃ namaḥ śivāya’; other rites are declared non-essential for one so established.