Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 120

Devanagari script

स्वयंभुबाणरत्नोत्थदातुपाषाणलोहजम् । लिंगं क्रमेण फलदमंत्यात्पूर्वं दशोत्तरम्

Transliteration

svayaṃbhubāṇaratnotthadātupāṣāṇalohajam | liṃgaṃ krameṇa phaladamaṃtyātpūrvaṃ daśottaram

Translation

Der Liṅga—ob svāyaṃbhuva (selbstmanifestiert), aus einem Pfeil geformt, aus einem Juwel hervorgegangen oder aus Erz, Stein oder Metall gefertigt—verleiht seine Früchte der Reihe nach; und die früher genannten sollen zehnfach mehr gewähren als die späteren.

Word by Word

• स्वयंभुबाणरत्नोत्थदातुपाषाणलोहजम्: made of self-manifest arrow-gem, mineral, stone and metal (materials)
• स्वयंभुबाणरत्नोत्थदातुपाषाणलोहजम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वयंभु-बाण-रत्न-उत्थ-धातु-पाषाण-लोह-ज (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: स्वयंभु + बाण + रत्न + उत्थ + धातु + पाषाण + लोह + ज)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (लिङ्गम्); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (…जम् = ‘…से उत्पन्नम्/निर्मितम्’)

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

• क्रमेण: in order/gradually
• क्रमेण: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति-रूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (instrumental used adverbially)

• फलदम्: fruit-giving
• फलदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फलद (प्रातिपदिक; फल + द)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (लिङ्गम्); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (फलम् ददाति)

• अन्त्यात्: from the last (one)
• अन्त्यात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; ‘अन्त्यात्’ = अन्त्यतः/अन्त्याद् (from the last)

• पूर्वम्: before/earlier
• पूर्वम्: Kala/Prakara (Order)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverbial accusative)

• दशोत्तरम्: ten-plus (elevenfold)/exceeding ten
• दशोत्तरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशोत्तर (प्रातिपदिक; दश + उत्तर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (लिङ्गम्/फलम्); तत्पुरुषः (दश अधिकम् = elevenfold/ten-plus)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa convention)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Liṅga-bheda (general)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A didactic tableau showing six liṅgas in sequence: natural rock svayambhu, smooth bāṇa-liṅga, jewel-born radiant liṅga, mineral-ore liṅga, stone-carved liṅga, metal-cast liṅga; a sage/priest points to the order with a palm-leaf text.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Liṅga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

All forms of Śiva-liṅga worship are fruitful, yet the Purāṇa ranks certain forms as yielding greater merit when approached in proper order and devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A liṅga-kṣetra context within Kaumārikākhaṇḍa is implied; the verse focuses on liṅga-types rather than naming a single city-tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A doctrinal rule of “gradation of fruits” for different liṅga forms—guiding selection and reverence in liṅga-pūjā.