Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

एष पंचाक्षरो मंत्रो जप्तॄणां मुक्तिदायकः । संसेव्यते मुनिश्रेष्ठैरशेषैः सिद्धिकांक्षिभिः

Transliteration

eṣa paṃcākṣaro maṃtro japtṝṇāṃ muktidāyakaḥ | saṃsevyate muniśreṣṭhairaśeṣaiḥ siddhikāṃkṣibhiḥ

Translation

This five-syllabled mantra grants liberation to those who repeat it in japa. It is reverently practiced by the foremost sages—by all who seek spiritual attainments.

Word by Word

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• पञ्चाक्षरः: five-syllabled
• पञ्चाक्षरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• मन्त्रः: mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जप्तॄणाम्: of the chanters
• जप्तॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप् (धातु) → जप्तृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (agent noun)

• मुक्तिदायकः: giver of liberation
• मुक्तिदायकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + दायक (प्रातिपदिक; दा-धातु से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• संसेव्यते: is resorted to / is practiced
• संसेव्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• मुनिश्रेष्ठैः: by the best of sages
• मुनिश्रेष्ठैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अशेषैः: by all, without remainder
• अशेषैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सिद्धिकाङ्क्षिभिः: by those desiring attainments
• सिद्धिकाङ्क्षिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + काङ्क्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक; काङ्क्ष्-धातु से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम

Speaker

Deductive attribution: Purāṇic narrator in Brahmottara-khaṇḍa (likely Sūta/compilational voice)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A circle of foremost sages seated in a forest āśrama, counting rudrākṣa beads, with a subtle radiance forming the syllables of the pañcākṣarī around them; Śiva’s presence felt as calm blue light.

Characters & Entities

• Munis
• Mantra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Steady japa of the Śiva-mantra is presented as a direct means to liberation, honored by realized sages.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; the focus is on the universal glory of the pañcākṣarī mantra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Japa (repetition) of the five-syllabled mantra is recommended as the core practice.