Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 29
गीतं वा यदि वा नृत्यं तत्पुरः कुरुते नरः । स सर्वेषां भजेच्छ्रेयो मखानां नात्र संशयः
gītaṃ vā yadi vā nṛtyaṃ tatpuraḥ kurute naraḥ | sa sarveṣāṃ bhajecchreyo makhānāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ
பாடலாக இருந்தாலும் நடனமாக இருந்தாலும்—அந்த இறைவன் முன்னிலையில் செய்வவன், எல்லா யாகங்களின் பலனுக்கு ஒப்பான பரம நன்மையை அடைவான்; இதில் ஐயமில்லை.
Brahmasaṃbhava Muni (deduced from concluding verse of the passage)
Tirtha: Mahāyogipura (implied)
Type: kshetra
Scene: In a temple hall, devotees sing while a dancer performs a restrained devotional nṛtya before a decorated Śiva-liṅga; above, symbolic sacrificial fires and offerings appear as luminous overlays, indicating ‘all sacrifices’ fulfilled.
FAQs
Bhakti expressed through art (song and dance) is treated as a complete offering, equivalent to the cumulative merit of ritual sacrifices.
The Rudrāvarta/Mahāyogipura setting, where such devotional acts are performed in the deity’s presence.
Offering gīta (singing) or nṛtya (dance) as devotional service before the deity.