Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 161
एवं ते भूतवद्देवा न हि गृह्णन्ति कर्हिचित् । शुचि कामं जुषंते न हविरश्रद्दधानतः
evaṃ te bhūtavaddevā na hi gṛhṇanti karhicit | śuci kāmaṃ juṣaṃte na haviraśraddadhānataḥ
یوں دیوتا کبھی بھی ایسی نذر قبول نہیں کرتے گویا وہ محض بھوتوں کے لیے ہو۔ نذر پاک بھی ہو تو بھی، بے عقیدگی سے پیش کی گئی ہَوی کو وہ نہیں چکھتے۔
Mahākāla (contextual)
Tirtha: Mahākāla-kṣetra (implied)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Rājā
Scene: Mahākāla explains that gods never accept offerings made as if for spirits; even pure oblations are refused when offered without faith—depict devas turning away from a faithless offering while blessing a sincere devotee.
FAQs
Inner faith (śraddhā) is essential; ritual purity alone does not make an offering acceptable to the devas.
No site is specified; the teaching is a general dharma principle on offerings.
Offerings (havis) should be made with śraddhā; otherwise the devas do not accept them.