Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 18
तापसा ऊचुः । नमो देवाधिदेवाय सर्वदेवमयाय च । नमः शांताय सूक्ष्माय नमश्चांधकभेदिने
tāpasā ūcuḥ | namo devādhidevāya sarvadevamayāya ca | namaḥ śāṃtāya sūkṣmāya namaścāṃdhakabhedine
เหล่าฤๅษีผู้บำเพ็ญตบะกล่าวว่า “ขอนอบน้อมแด่เทวาธิเทพ ผู้ทรงเป็นที่รวมแห่งเทพทั้งปวง ขอนอบน้อมแด่พระผู้สงบและละเอียดลึกซึ้ง; ขอนอบน้อมแด่ผู้ปราบอันธกะ”
Tāpasas (ascetics)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A group of tapasvins with matted hair and bark garments stand with folded hands, facing a subtle, luminous Śiva presence—suggested rather than fully anthropomorphic—while a faint memory-image of Andhaka’s defeat appears as a protective aura behind the deity.
FAQs
Śiva is both immanent (all-deities-in-one) and transcendent (subtle and peaceful), and he removes demonic darkness symbolized by Andhaka.
The hymn occurs within a tīrtha-glorification context in Nāgara Khaṇḍa; the exact tīrtha-name is not contained in this verse.
Stuti (praise/recitation of salutations) is performed as a devotional offering; no separate vrata or dāna is stated.