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
نندبھدر نے کہا: “یہ بات تو یوں ہی ہے؛ مگر اے بلند فہم، میں اس کے بارے میں مزید پوچھتا ہوں۔ جب ایشور سب کچھ دینے والے ہیں تو پھر دیوتاؤں کی پوجا کون کرتا ہے؟”
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.