Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

रत्नजं शंकरस्यापि राजतं केशवस्य च । मेरुदिक्षु चतसृषु विष्कंभा गिरयः स्मृताः

Transliteration

ratnajaṃ śaṃkarasyāpi rājataṃ keśavasya ca | merudikṣu catasṛṣu viṣkaṃbhā girayaḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

Ferner gibt es einen aus Edelsteinen gebildeten Gipfel für Śaṅkara und einen silbernen Gipfel für Keśava. In den vier Richtungen des Meru werden die stützenden Berge (viṣkambhas) überliefert.

Word by Word

• रत्नजम्: made of jewels
• रत्नजम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्नज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शंकरस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शंकरस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षाबोधक-अव्यय (also/even)

• राजतम्: silver (made of silver)
• राजतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• केशवस्य: of Keśava (Viṣṇu)
• केशवस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• मेरुदिक्षु: in the directions of Meru
• मेरुदिक्षु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक) + दिक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (दिक्), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मेरोः दिशः)

• चतसृषु: in four
• चतसृषु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतसृ (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक (four)

• विष्कंभाः: supports, pillars
• विष्कंभाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्कम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• गिरयः: mountains
• गिरयः: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are said, are remembered
• स्मृताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used predicatively), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थ (are said/remembered)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Meru (ratna-śṛṅga, rājata-śṛṅga; viṣkambha-giri)

Type: peak

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Meru with gleaming subsidiary peaks: one jewel-like, prismatic for Śaṅkara; one silver-white for Keśava; four massive buttress-mountains in cardinal directions like pillars holding the world-mountain steady.

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Keśava (Viṣṇu)
• Meru
• Viṣkambha mountains

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divinity is celebrated through symbolic materials (jewel, silver) and cosmic supports, portraying the universe as upheld by sacred power and order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This passage glorifies Meru and its cosmic features, not a specific earthly tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.