Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 17
जटाधरस्तपस्यंश्च शिवाराधनतत्परः । इत्थं मे कुर्वतो जातं पुनर्भूप प्रमापणम्
jaṭādharastapasyaṃśca śivārādhanatatparaḥ | itthaṃ me kurvato jātaṃ punarbhūpa pramāpaṇam
சடையணிந்து, தவத்தில் ஈடுபட்டு, சிவாராதனையில் முழுமையாகத் திளைத்திருந்தபோது—இவ்வாறு நான் வாழ்ந்துகொண்டிருக்க, அரசே, மீண்டும் எனக்கு மரணம் வந்தடைந்தது.
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating (contextual deduction within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa)
Listener: King (bhūpa)
Scene: A jaṭādhara ascetic, ash-smeared, absorbed in Śiva-pūjā; a subtle, shadow-like figure of Death approaches, while the ascetic remains composed—signaling inevitability and inner steadiness.
FAQs
Even with tapas and devotion, the cycle of death continues until higher realization; sustained Śiva-bhakti remains the guiding path.
No site is specified; the verse centers on ascetic devotion to Śiva.
Austerity (tapas), jaṭā-dhāraṇa, and dedicated Śivārādhana are described as a devotional regimen.