Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 77

Devanagari script

अहं पुनः समस्तैश्च दह्यामि सह साधुभिः । एवमुक्त्वा शिवं लिङ्गं कृत्वा तन्मस्तकोपरि

Transliteration

ahaṃ punaḥ samastaiśca dahyāmi saha sādhubhiḥ | evamuktvā śivaṃ liṅgaṃ kṛtvā tanmastakopari

Translation

„Und auch ich werde, zusammen mit allen (meinen Gefährten), mit den heiligen Männern verbrennen.“ So sprach er, formte ein Śiva-Liṅga und setzte es sich auf den Kopf.

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• पुनः: again / moreover
• पुनः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक अव्यय (adverb)

• समस्तैः: with all
• समस्तैः: Saha (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; विशेषण (साधुभिः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• दह्यामि: I burn
• दह्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सह: together with
• सह: Saha (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहकारक-प्रयोगे उपपद-अव्यय (postposition: 'with')

• साधुभिः: with the good people / saints
• साधुभिः: Saha (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; सह-योगे

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'thus')

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; 'having said'

• शिवम्: auspicious / of Śiva
• शिवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (लिङ्गम्)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga (emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; 'having made'

• तत्: that (it)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; लिङ्गम् इति अन्वयः

• मस्तक: (his) head
• मस्तक: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; 'of (his) head' (उपरि-योगे)

• उपरि: upon
• उपरि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb/postposition: 'upon/on')

Speaker

Unspecified penitent (contextual speaker within Revā Khaṇḍa narrative)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A man, resolute, speaks to companions and holy men, then molds a Śiva-liṅga and balances it upon his head, eyes fixed with fierce devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Śiva-liṅga
• Sādhu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even in extreme remorse, devotion to Śiva is expressed through honoring the liṅga; sacred symbols become the focus of surrender.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not specified in this verse; the Revā Khaṇḍa setting frames the act within a tīrtha-oriented Śaiva narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Making and reverently bearing a Śiva-liṅga is described (a devotional act rather than a formalized, general prescription).