Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

सर्वतीर्थान्तरस्थानं तथार्णवमहीजले । सर्वभूतमयो यद्वत्र्यंबकः परिकीर्त्यते

Transliteration

sarvatīrthāntarasthānaṃ tathārṇavamahījale | sarvabhūtamayo yadvatryaṃbakaḥ parikīrtyate

Translation

So too, within the waters of ocean and earth abides the seat of all tīrthas—just as Tryambaka (Śiva) is praised as being constituted of all beings.

Word by Word

• sarva-tīrtha-antara-sthānam: the abode within all sacred fords
• sarva-tīrtha-antara-sthānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: सर्वेषां तीर्थानाम् अन्तरस्थं स्थानम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (so/likewise)

• arṇava-mahī-jale: in the water of ocean and earth
• arṇava-mahī-jale: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः: अर्णवस्य मह्याः च जलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; द्वन्द्व-भावार्थक समुच्चय)

• sarva-bhūta-mayaḥ: consisting of all beings
• sarva-bhūta-mayaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: सर्वैः भूतैः मयः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/बहुव्रीह्यर्थसन्निकर्ष)

• yadvat: just as
• yadvat: Sambandha (Comparison/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (just as/in the same way)

• tryaṃbakaḥ: Tryambaka (Śiva)
• tryaṃbakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tryaṃbaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• parikīrtyate: is proclaimed
• parikīrtyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kīrt (धातु) + pari- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (is proclaimed)

Speaker

Śakra (Indra) and the Devas (within Sūta’s narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Mahī–Sāgara Saṅgama (implied as the focal ‘all-tīrtha’ water)

Type: sangam

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vast confluence scene dissolves into a cosmic vision: countless tīrthas symbolically flowing into one body of water; above, Tryambaka appears as a serene, all-pervading presence with beings emerging as facets of his form.

Characters & Entities

• Tryambaka (Śiva)
• Ocean (Arṇava)
• Earth-waters
• Sarvatīrtha concept

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The divine is all-pervading: as Śiva is ‘made of all beings,’ sacred waters can symbolically gather the merit of all tīrthas.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse glorifies sacred waters in a universal sense (ocean-and-earth waters) and the sarva-tīrtha principle, within the Mahī-bank narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It supports abhiṣeka using sanctified waters understood to contain the potency of all tīrthas.