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
难陀跋陀罗说道：“诚然如此；然而，大慧者啊，我还要再问。诸自在主皆为一切施与者；那么，诸天又由谁来供奉礼拜呢？”
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.