Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 79
नमस्कारः स्तुतिः पूजा नामसंकीर्तनं तथा । संपर्कात्कौतुकाल्लोभान्न तस्य विफलं भवेत्
namaskāraḥ stutiḥ pūjā nāmasaṃkīrtanaṃ tathā | saṃparkātkautukāllobhānna tasya viphalaṃ bhavet
నమస్కారం, స్తుతి, పూజ, నామసంకీర్తనం—ఇవి కేవలం సాంగత్యం వల్ల, కుతూహలం వల్ల లేదా లోభం వల్ల చేసినా, ఎవరికీ నిష్ఫలమవు।
Mahākāla (contextual—Kaumārikākhaṇḍa dialogue; immediate speaker not marked in this verse)
Tirtha: Śiva-sannidhi (temple presence)
Type: ghat
Scene: A bustling temple courtyard: some devotees bow with devotion, some watch with curiosity, some offer with desire for gain—yet Śiva’s presence radiates equally, indicating unfailing fruit.
FAQs
Any connection to devotion—salutation, praise, worship, or name-chanting—plants merit and is never wasted.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse glorifies devotional acts themselves.
Namaskāra, stuti, pūjā, and nāma-saṃkīrtana are recommended as efficacious devotional practices.