Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 130

Devanagari script

श्रीगोकर्णे शिवतिथावुपोष्य शिवमस्तके । कृत्वा जागरणं ह्येषा चक्रे बिल्वार्पणं निशि

Transliteration

śrīgokarṇe śivatithāvupoṣya śivamastake | kṛtvā jāgaraṇaṃ hyeṣā cakre bilvārpaṇaṃ niśi

Translation

At sacred Gokarṇa, on Śiva’s holy lunar day (tithi), she observed a fast; keeping vigil through the night, she offered bilva leaves upon the head of Śiva, the liṅga.

Word by Word

• श्रीगोकर्णे: in Śrī-Gokarṇa
• श्रीगोकर्णे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + गोकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; स्थानाधिकरण (in Śrī-Gokarṇa)

• शिवतिथौ: on the Śiva tithi
• शिवतिथौ: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + तिथि (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण (on Śiva’s lunar day)

• उपोष्य: having fasted
• उपोष्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उपवस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having fasted)

• शिवमस्तके: on Śiva’s head
• शिवमस्तके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण (on Śiva’s head/at the head of Śiva [image])

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having done)

• जागरणम्: night vigil
• जागरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जागरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• एषा: she
• एषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चक्रे: did/performed
• चक्रे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• बिल्वार्पणम्: offering of bilva (leaves)
• बिल्वार्पणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व + अर्पण (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म (offering of bilva leaves)

• निशि: at night
• निशि: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कालाधिकरण (at night)

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative voice within Brahmottara Khaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gokarṇa

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Night at Gokarṇa: devotees around a Śiva-liṅga, oil lamps flickering, the penitent offering fresh bilva leaves onto the liṅga’s crown, waves audible in the distance, stars overhead during vigil.

Characters & Entities

• Gokarṇa
• Śiva
• Bilva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even one burdened by past wrongdoing can turn toward liberation through sincere Śiva-vrata—fasting, vigil, and simple offerings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Śrī Gokarṇa is explicitly praised as the setting for efficacious Śiva worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Upavāsa (fasting) on a Śiva-tithi, night-long jāgaraṇa (vigil), and bilvārpaṇa (offering bilva leaves) to Śiva.