Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 18
एवं मत्वा सदा मातुः कर्तव्या भक्तिरुत्तमैः । तमेनं परमं धर्मं प्रजापतिविनिर्मितम् । अनुतिष्ठंति ये पुत्रास्ते यांति परमां गतिम्
evaṃ matvā sadā mātuḥ kartavyā bhaktiruttamaiḥ | tamenaṃ paramaṃ dharmaṃ prajāpativinirmitam | anutiṣṭhaṃti ye putrāste yāṃti paramāṃ gatim
இவ்வாறு உணர்ந்து உயர்ந்தோர் எப்போதும் தாயின் மீது உத்தம பக்தியைச் செய்ய வேண்டும். இது பிரஜாபதி அமைத்த பரம தர்மம்; இதை அனுஷ்டிப்போர் ஆகிய புதல்வர் பரம கதியை அடைவர்.
Narrator (didactic conclusion within the episode)
Scene: A sage-like narrator or elder instructs: ‘Prajāpati-made dharma’; behind, a symbolic Prajāpati/creator figure inscribing dharma; foreground shows a son serving his mother (offering water/food).
FAQs
Mātṛ-bhakti is declared a ‘parama dharma’; practicing it is said to lead to the highest spiritual attainment.
The verse itself does not specify a site; it functions as a universal dharma teaching within a tīrtha-māhātmya chapter.
A standing prescription of conduct: consistent devotion/service to the mother (mātṛ-sevā), rather than a particular pilgrimage rite.
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