Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

आत्मना देवदेवेशः शूलपाणिः प्रतिष्ठितः । सर्वतीर्थेषु तत्तीर्थं सर्वदेवमयं परम्

Transliteration

ātmanā devadeveśaḥ śūlapāṇiḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ | sarvatīrtheṣu tattīrthaṃ sarvadevamayaṃ param

Translation

There the Lord of lords—Śiva, the Trident-bearer—established that sacred presence by his own divine power. Among all tīrthas, that very tīrtha is supreme, for it is pervaded by all the gods.

Word by Word

• आत्मना: by himself
• आत्मना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• देवदेवेशः: Lord of the gods of gods (supreme lord)
• देवदेवेशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवदेवानाम् ईशः)

• शूलपाणिः: the trident-handed one (Śiva)
• शूलपाणिः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (शूलः पाणौ यस्य सः)

• प्रतिष्ठितः: is established
• प्रतिष्ठितः: Kriya (State/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः (is established)

• सर्वतीर्थेषु: among all sacred fords
• सर्वतीर्थेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि तीर्थानि)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘तीर्थम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• तीर्थम्: tīrtha, sacred place
• तीर्थम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• सर्वदेवमयम्: consisting of all gods
• सर्वदेवमयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + देव + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वदेवानां मयम् = consisting of all gods)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘तीर्थम्’ इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced for Āvantya Khaṇḍa narration style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Cakatīrtha/Śūlabheda (sarvadevamaya tīrtha)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: nṛpottama

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva as Śūlapāṇi stands on the riverbank, radiating power, establishing a liṅga/tīrtha presence; around the site, faint forms or symbols of multiple deities appear, indicating sarvadevamayatva.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Śūlapāṇi

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A tīrtha becomes supremely potent when it is established by Śiva’s own divine will and is regarded as pervaded by all deities.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A supreme tīrtha within the Revā Khaṇḍa’s sacred geography (the Revā/Narmadā region), presented as foremost among all pilgrimage fords.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is stated here; the verse emphasizes consecration (pratiṣṭhā) and the inherent supremacy of the tīrtha.