Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 59

Devanagari script

न दुर्लभं न दुष्प्रापं न चासाध्यं महात्मनाम् । शिवभक्तिकृतां पुंसां त्रिलोक्यामिति निश्चितम्

Transliteration

na durlabhaṃ na duṣprāpaṃ na cāsādhyaṃ mahātmanām | śivabhaktikṛtāṃ puṃsāṃ trilokyāmiti niścitam

Translation

For the great-souled, nothing is rare, nothing is hard to obtain, and nothing is impossible. For those who have cultivated devotion to Śiva, this is certain throughout the three worlds.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• दुर्लभम्: difficult to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुस् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + लभ् (धातु) → दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• दुष्प्रापम्: hard to attain
• दुष्प्रापम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुस् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्राप् (धातु) → दुष्प्राप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• असाध्यम्: not impossible / not unachievable
• असाध्यम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + साध्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; साध् धातोः यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समासः (negated)

• महात्मनाम्: of the great-souled
• महात्मनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; महा + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (Genitive pl: 'of great-souled ones')

• शिवभक्तिकृताम्: who have done devotion to Śiva
• शिवभक्तिकृताम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृ धातोः क्त; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य भक्तिः; तया कृताः) — ‘those who have performed Śiva-devotion’ (agreeing with पुंसाम् by sense)

• पुंसाम्: of men
• पुंसाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (Genitive pl)

• त्रिलोक्याम्: in the three worlds
• त्रिलोक्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः लोकाः)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक-अव्यय

• निश्चितम्: is determined
• निश्चितम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + चि (धातु) → निश्चित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ascertained/decided’

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), deduced for Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narration

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A steadfast Śiva-bhakta stands fearless before the three worlds symbolized as celestial, earthly, and nether realms, with Śiva’s presence behind—signifying that nothing is unattainable for the devoted.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Triloka (three worlds)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva-bhakti transforms spiritual capacity: for the devoted, obstacles lose their force and attainments become accessible.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is mentioned; the verse universalizes the efficacy of Śiva-devotion.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The prescription is cultivation of Śiva-bhakti (devotion), encompassing worship, remembrance, and disciplined living.