Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

नमस्कारेण जीवत्वं शिवेऽत्र परमात्मनि । ऐक्यं गतमतो मंत्रः परब्रह्ममयो ह्यसौ

Transliteration

namaskāreṇa jīvatvaṃ śive'tra paramātmani | aikyaṃ gatamato maṃtraḥ parabrahmamayo hyasau

Translation

Through the act of reverent salutation (namaskāra), the state of individuality merges here into Śiva, the Supreme Self. Therefore this mantra is indeed composed of the Supreme Brahman (Parabrahman).

Word by Word

• नमस्कारेण: by salutation
• नमस्कारेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• जीवत्वम्: individual-soul-ness
• जीवत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवत्व (प्रातिपदिक; जीव + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• शिवे: in Śiva
• शिवे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: here)

• परमात्मनि: in the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• ऐक्यम्: oneness
• ऐक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• गतम्: has gone/attained
• गतम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (Logical connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (therefore)

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

• परब्रह्ममयः: consisting of the Supreme Brahman
• परब्रह्ममयः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• असौ: that (mantra)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

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

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee or sage offering namaskāra; the outline of the individual self dissolves into a vast Śiva-light; the pañcākṣarī appears as a bridge of sound turning into silence and unity.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Paramātman
• Parabrahman

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True surrender (‘namaḥ’) dissolves egoic individuality and reveals unity with Śiva, the Supreme Self.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is specified; the verse emphasizes inner transformation through mantra and surrender.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Namaskāra/surrender as embedded in mantra-recitation (japa of ‘namaḥ’ to Śiva).