Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

ऋषिभिः पातितं लिंगं देवदेवस्य शूलिनः । शापेनानर्तके देशे कलत्रार्थे महात्मभिः

Transliteration

ṛṣibhiḥ pātitaṃ liṃgaṃ devadevasya śūlinaḥ | śāpenānartake deśe kalatrārthe mahātmabhiḥ

Translation

Der Liṅga des Śūlin—des Gottes der Götter—ist von den ṛṣi herabgeworfen worden; durch den Fluch großherziger Weiser im Land Anartaka, wegen einer Angelegenheit, die eine Gattin betrifft.

Word by Word

• ऋषिभिः: by sages
• ऋषिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन — 'by sages'

• पातितम्: made to fall
• पातितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — 'caused to fall/overthrown'

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — 'liṅga'

• देवदेवस्य: of the God of gods
• देवदेवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां देवः) — 'of the god of gods'

• शूलिनः: of the trident-bearer (Śiva)
• शूलिनः: Sambandha (Genitive apposition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — epithet 'bearing a trident'

• शापेन: by a curse
• शापेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन — 'by a curse'

• अनर्तके: in Anartaka (region)
• अनर्तके: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनर्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन — qualifying 'deśe'

• देशे: in the land
• देशे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन — 'in the land'

• कलत्रार्थे: for the sake of a wife
• कलत्रार्थे: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलत्र + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषः (कलत्राय अर्थः) — 'for the sake of a wife' (purpose)

• महात्मभिः: by great souls
• महात्मभिः: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन — 'by great-souled ones'

Speaker

Brahmā

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Anartaka-kṣetra (liṅga-sthāna implied)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Surasattamāḥ (gods)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of austere ṛṣis, blazing with tapas, utter a curse; a radiant liṅga is shown toppled or displaced onto the earth of Anarta, while the sky darkens in response.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Śūlin, Devadeva)
• Liṅga
• Ṛṣis
• Anartaka (Anarta region)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even holy sages’ actions and curses can shape sacred geography; restoring what is displaced becomes a dharmic necessity for the welfare of worlds.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative points to a Śaiva sacred locus in the Anarta/Anartaka region connected with the fallen liṅga of Mahādeva.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Not directly; the implied dharmic act is to re-establish the liṅga in its proper place.