Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 37
अर्धनारीश्वरं देवं व्याप्य विश्वमवस्थितम् । दृष्ट्वा तमब्रुवं देवं भजस्वेति च भक्तितः
ardhanārīśvaraṃ devaṃ vyāpya viśvamavasthitam | dṛṣṭvā tamabruvaṃ devaṃ bhajasveti ca bhaktitaḥ
உலகமெங்கும் பரவி அதிலேயே நிலைத்திருக்கும் அர்த்தநாரீஸ்வர தேவனை நான் தரிசித்தேன். அந்த ஆண்டவனைப் பார்த்து பக்தியுடன்—“அவரையே வழிபடுங்கள்” என்று கூறினேன்.
Brahmā (continuing first-person narration; deduced)
Scene: A visionary darśana: Ardhanārīśvara stands as the axis of the universe, half Śiva and half Pārvatī, radiating through the worlds; the seer addresses the deity with folded hands, urging worship.
FAQs
Śiva and Śakti are one reality; devotion to the all-pervading Lord is the foundation of cosmic harmony and liberation.
No specific pilgrimage site is named; the verse is theological, highlighting Ardhanārīśvara.
An implicit prescription of bhajana/upāsanā (devotional worship) is indicated by ‘bhajasva’.