Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 121

Devanagari script

वरं दत्त्वा स्वयं तस्थौ महीनगरके शुभे । कोटितीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा नीलकण्ठं प्रपश्यति

Transliteration

varaṃ dattvā svayaṃ tasthau mahīnagarake śubhe | koṭitīrthe naraḥ snātvā nīlakaṇṭhaṃ prapaśyati

Translation

Nachdem er einen Segen gewährt hatte, blieb er selbst in der glückverheißenden Mahīnagaraka. Wer in Koṭitīrtha das heilige Bad nimmt, schaut Nīlakaṇṭha (Śiva).

Word by Word

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular

• दत्त्वा: having granted
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) → दत्त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया — having given

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (Agent emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — oneself/ personally

• तस्थौ: remained/stood
• तस्थौ: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — stood/remained

• महीनगरके: in Mahīnagaraka
• महीनगरके: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीनगरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — locative singular; समास: मही+नगरक (तत्पुरुष)

• शुभे: auspicious
• शुभे: Adhikarana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — locative singular; विशेषण (to महीनगरके)

• कोटितीर्थे: at Koṭitīrtha
• कोटितीर्थे: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटितीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — locative singular; समास: कोटि+तीर्थ (तत्पुरुष)

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — nominative singular

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) → स्नात्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया — having bathed

• नीलकण्ठम्: Nīlakaṇṭha (Shiva)
• नीलकण्ठम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular; समास: नीलः कण्ठः यस्य (कर्मधारय)

• प्रपश्यति: beholds/sees
• प्रपश्यति: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — sees/beholds

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Koṭitīrtha

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Nārada (context from prior verse)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva, after granting a boon, abides in auspicious Mahīnagaraka; pilgrims descend steps into Koṭitīrtha to bathe, then proceed with wet hair and folded hands to behold Nīlakaṇṭha in a nearby shrine.

Characters & Entities

• Mahīnagaraka
• Koṭitīrtha
• Nīlakaṇṭha (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred bathing at a tīrtha is presented as a direct means to Śiva’s darśana and grace.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Koṭitīrtha, associated with Mahīnagaraka and the presence of Nīlakaṇṭha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform snāna (ritual bathing) at Koṭitīrtha.