Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

जल्पंति नानागमभेदैर्मीमांसमानाश्च भवंति मूकाः । नानागमार्चायमतप्रभेदैर्निरूप्यमाणो जगदेकबंधुः

Transliteration

jalpaṃti nānāgamabhedairmīmāṃsamānāśca bhavaṃti mūkāḥ | nānāgamārcāyamataprabhedairnirūpyamāṇo jagadekabaṃdhuḥ

Translation

Die Menschen schwatzen und zerteilen die Überlieferung in viele Āgamas; und wer nur streitet und analysiert, verstummt (vor der Wahrheit). Obgleich Er durch vielfältige āgamische Verehrungsformen und unterschiedliche Lehrmeinungen beschrieben wird, bleibt Er der eine Freund der Welt.

Word by Word

• jalpanti: they prattle/argue
• jalpanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jalp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• nānā-āgama-bhedaiḥ: by differences of various Āgamas
• nānā-āgama-bhedaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + āgama (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (आगमानां भेदाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• mīmāṃsamānāḥ: investigating/arguing
• mīmāṃsamānāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mīmāṃs (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘inquiring/arguing’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• bhavanti: they become
• bhavanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• mūkāḥ: mute/speechless
• mūkāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• nānā-āgama-arcāya-mata-prabhedaiḥ: by distinctions of various Āgamas, worship-forms, and doctrines
• nānā-āgama-arcāya-mata-prabhedaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + āgama (प्रातिपदिक) + arcāya (प्रातिपदिक) + mata (प्रातिपदिक) + prabheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास (प्रभेदाः—आगम/अर्चा/मत-सम्बन्धिनः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• nirūpyamāṇaḥ: being expounded
• nirūpyamāṇaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√rūp (धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘being described/defined’

• jagat-eka-bandhuḥ: the sole kinsman of the world
• jagat-eka-bandhuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक) + bandhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (जगतः एकः बन्धुः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa Sūta (deduced: reflective doctrinal narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra / Kedārakṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A circle of disputants with scrolls arguing; their speech fades as a radiant Śiva-linga/light appears; diverse āgamic worship items (bilva, vibhūti, rudrākṣa, lamps) surround one central Lord labeled ‘Jagadeka-bandhu’.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (implied as jagadekabandhu)
• Āgamas
• Mīmāṃsā (debate/tradition, implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Doctrinal quarrels cannot grasp the Supreme; beyond many paths and descriptions, the Lord remains one and universally benevolent.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedāra Śaiva setting is the frame; the verse emphasizes the universality of Śiva worship that supports pilgrimage faith across traditions.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it comments on worship traditions and doctrinal diversity rather than prescribing a rite.