Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 47
ततस्तव गणो भूयामिति मेऽभीप्सितो वरः । तथेत्युक्त्वा स भगवान्हरश्चादर्शनं गतः
tatastava gaṇo bhūyāmiti me'bhīpsito varaḥ | tathetyuktvā sa bhagavānharaścādarśanaṃ gataḥ
అనంతరం నాకు ఇష్టమైన వరం ఇది—“నేను నీ గణుడనై యుండుగాక.” “తథాస్తు” అని పలికి భగవాన్ హరుడు అదృశ్యమయ్యెను।
Narrator (devotee/petitioner; closing narration)
Listener: King/interlocutor in the narrative frame
Scene: Śiva, having said ‘tathā’, dissolves into light; the devotee remains in añjali, overwhelmed yet composed, as the divine presence fades into the sky/space.
FAQs
The highest boon is not worldly gain but intimate service to Śiva—belonging to his divine retinue through devotion.
No particular tīrtha is identified in this verse.
No explicit prescription; the verse highlights the devotional aspiration of becoming Śiva’s attendant.