Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 20
शुक्र उवाच । तस्य शापोऽन्यथा कर्तुं नैव शक्यः कथंचन । केनापि संपरित्यज्य देवमेकं महेश्वरम्
śukra uvāca | tasya śāpo'nyathā kartuṃ naiva śakyaḥ kathaṃcana | kenāpi saṃparityajya devamekaṃ maheśvaram
ศุกรกล่าวว่า: คำสาปนั้นไม่อาจทำให้เป็นอย่างอื่นได้ไม่ว่ากรณีใด ดังนั้นอย่าละทิ้งเทพองค์เดียวคือพระมหेशวร จงเข้าพึ่งพระองค์เท่านั้น
Śukra
Listener: Cursed being (Dānava implied by later address)
Scene: Śukra, composed and authoritative, raises a hand in instruction (abhaya/anuśāsana gesture), emphasizing the inevitability of the curse and pointing inward/upward toward Maheśvara as the single refuge.
FAQs
Some karmic consequences cannot be reversed; the dharmic response is steadfast devotion to Śiva as the sure refuge.
The instruction leads into worship connected with Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra, praised in this adhyāya.
Implicitly, it prescribes unwavering worship of Maheśvara, without turning to other supports.