Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 77
नंदभद्र उवाच । एवमेतत्किं तु भूयः प्रक्ष्याम्येतन्महामते । ईश्वराः सर्वदातारः पूज्यंते यैश्च देवताः
naṃdabhadra uvāca | evametatkiṃ tu bhūyaḥ prakṣyāmyetanmahāmate | īśvarāḥ sarvadātāraḥ pūjyaṃte yaiśca devatāḥ
นันทภัทรกล่าวว่า “เป็นดังนั้นจริง; แต่โอ้ผู้มีปัญญายิ่ง ข้าพเจ้าขอถามต่อไปอีก หากพระอีศวรทั้งหลายเป็นผู้ประทานสรรพสิ่ง แล้วผู้ใดเล่าจึงบูชาเหล่าเทวะ?”
Nandabhadra
Listener: A youthful interlocutor addressed as 'bāla' (boy)
Scene: Nandabhadra, hands folded yet inquisitive, addresses a youthful sage/teacher; surrounding them are small icons of various devatās, while a subtle central liṅga or radiant Śiva-symbol suggests the unifying source behind worship.
FAQs
It frames a theological inquiry: even divine powers depend on a higher ordering principle, prompting deeper reflection on ultimate worship and sourcehood.
No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it is a dialogue transition into theological explanation.
No ritual is prescribed; the verse introduces a question about the hierarchy and ground of worship.