The Skanda Purana is one of the eighteen major Puranas, as stated in the Shirmad-Bhagavatam (12.7.23-24): "The eighteen major Punaras are the Brahama, Padma, Visnu, Siva, Linga, Garuda, Narada, Bhagavata, Agni, Skanda, Bhavisya, Brahma-vaivarta, Markandeya, Vamana, Varaha, Matsya, Kurma and Brahmanda Puranas." Of all the Puranas, the Skanda Purana is by far the largest, as explained in the Shrimad-Bhagavatam (12.13.4-9), containing eighty-one thousand one hundred verses.

The great acharyas, frequently quoted important verses from the Skand Purana. In a prabhupada to Shrimad-Bhagavatam (2.9.36), Srila Prabhupada wrote: "Srila Jiva Gosvami also quotes another common passage, which is found in three Puranas, namely the Padma Purana, Skanda Purana, Skanda Purana and Linga Purana. It runs as follows:"

 

alodya sarva-sastrani
Vicarya ca punah punah
idam ekam sunispannam
dhyeyo narayanah sada

"By scrutinizingly reviewing all the revealed scriptures and judging them again and again, it is now concluded that Lord Narayana is the Supreme Absolute Truth, and thus He alone should be worshiped."