Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 12
निष्कामस्तु पुनर्यो मां तस्मिन्काले नृपोत्तम । पूजयिष्यति सद्भक्त्या पुष्पधूपानुलेपनैः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो मम लोकं स यास्यति
niṣkāmastu punaryo māṃ tasminkāle nṛpottama | pūjayiṣyati sadbhaktyā puṣpadhūpānulepanaiḥ | sarvapāpavinirmukto mama lokaṃ sa yāsyati
அரசர்களில் சிறந்தவனே! அந்த நேரத்தில் ஆசையற்றவனாய் மலர், தூபம், சந்தன அனுலேபனங்களால் உண்மைப் பக்தியுடன் என்னை வழிபடுவான் எல்லாப் பாவங்களிலிருந்தும் விடுபட்டு என் லோகத்தை அடைவான்.
Śaṅkara (Śiva)
Tirtha: Niṣadhā-purī Śambhu-sthāpita-kṣetra (as implied in the passage)
Type: kshetra
Listener: nṛpottama (best of kings)
Scene: A king or pilgrim offers flowers, incense, and fragrant unguents before a Śiva-liṅga; the atmosphere is calm, with a sense of inner renunciation and luminous sanctity.
FAQs
Selfless devotion (niṣkāma-bhakti) elevates ritual into liberation-oriented worship, leading to sin-removal and attainment of Śiva’s realm.
The Śaṅkara-prāsāda and its tīrtha in Nāgarakhaṇḍa, Adhyāya 55, where worship at the specified auspicious time is praised.
Perform Śiva-pūjā with flowers, incense, and anointments at the specified sacred time, with niṣkāma (desireless) intent.