Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 103
अघोरवक्त्रं त्रितयं प्रपद्ये अथर्वजुष्टं तव रूपकाणि । अघोरघोराणि च घोरघोराण्यहं सदानौमि भूतानि तुभ्यम्
aghoravaktraṃ tritayaṃ prapadye atharvajuṣṭaṃ tava rūpakāṇi | aghoraghorāṇi ca ghoraghorāṇyahaṃ sadānaumi bhūtāni tubhyam
میں آپ کے اَگھور چہرے—تیسرے—کی پناہ لیتا ہوں؛ اَتھرو روایت میں محبوب آپ کی صورتیں۔ خواہ نرم ہوں یا ہیبت ناک، میں ہمیشہ اُن تمام مخلوقات کو، جو آپ ہی کی ملکیت اور آپ کے حکم کے تحت ہیں، آپ کے لیے سجدۂ تعظیم کرتا ہوں۔
A dvija devotee (as implied by the immediate narrative context)
Scene: Śiva’s Aghora face appears luminous yet formidable; around him are bhūta-gaṇas—yakṣas, piśācas, pramathas—rendered not as mere horrors but as disciplined attendants; the devotee bows without fear.
FAQs
Śiva encompasses both the benign and the fearsome; reverence to Him includes honoring the cosmic hosts (bhūtas) under His command.
No explicit tirtha is named; the focus is on Śiva’s Aghora aspect and His attendants.
Perpetual reverence (sadā naumi) and refuge-taking (prapadye) are emphasized, reflecting devotional discipline.