Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 6

Devanagari script

तथा संस्थापितं तत्र विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना । लिंगं प्रासादमाधाय प्रोत्तुंगशिखरान्वितम्

Transliteration

tathā saṃsthāpitaṃ tatra viṣṇunā prabhaviṣṇunā | liṃgaṃ prāsādamādhāya prottuṃgaśikharānvitam

Translation

Ebenso errichtete dort Viṣṇu—mächtig und allgewaltig—einen Liṅga und setzte ihn in einen Tempel mit überaus hohem Turmspitz.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner: “thus”)

• संस्थापितम्: installed, established
• संस्थापितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु) + णिच्; संस्थापित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; “having been established/installed”

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: “there”)

• विष्णुना: by Viṣṇu
• विष्णुना: Karana (Instrument/Agent-in-passive करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण), एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• प्रभविष्णुना: by the mighty (sovereign) Viṣṇu
• प्रभविष्णुना: Karana (Instrument/Agent-in-passive करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; विशेषणम् विष्णुना (qualifier: “mighty/sovereign Viṣṇu”)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga (Śiva-emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• प्रासादम्: a temple, palace-like shrine
• प्रासादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• आधाय: having placed, having set up
• आधाय: Kriya (Non-finite verbal action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); “having placed/established (having set up)”

• प्रोत्तुङ्गशिखरान्वितम्: endowed with very lofty spires
• प्रोत्तुङ्गशिखरान्वितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-उत्तुङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विशेषणसमास); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् प्रासादम्/लिङ्गम् (endowed with very lofty peaks)

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (Somnātha) (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Viṣṇu, radiant and regal, installs a Śiva-liṅga within a newly raised stone prāsāda crowned by an exceptionally tall śikhara; priests hold kalaśas, lamps, and garlands as the consecration moment culminates.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The māhātmya emphasizes unity of devotion: even Viṣṇu participates in liṅga consecration, highlighting harmony and shared reverence within sacred geography.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra, as continued from the preceding chapter’s colophon and context.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Liṅga installation and enshrinement in a prāsāda with a high śikhara (spire) is described.