Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

अखंडैर्बिल्वपत्रैश्च पुष्पैर्वा विविधैरपि । लिंगं प्रपूरणं कृत्वा लक्ष्मेकं वसेद्दिवि

Transliteration

akhaṃḍairbilvapatraiśca puṣpairvā vividhairapi | liṃgaṃ prapūraṇaṃ kṛtvā lakṣmekaṃ vaseddivi

Translation

By fully adorning the Liṅga with unbroken bilva leaves, or even with various kinds of flowers, one dwells in heaven endowed with abundant prosperity.

Word by Word

• अखण्डैः: unbroken/whole
• अखण्डैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (बिल्वपत्रैः)

• बिल्वपत्रैः: with bilva leaves
• बिल्वपत्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (बिल्वस्य पत्रम्)

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

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (पुष्पैः)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga (Śiva emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रपूरणम्: filling/adorning fully
• प्रपूरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र + पूर् (धातु) → प्रपूरण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाववाचक-नाम (ल्युट्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (पूरणरूपेण)

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

• लक्ष्मि: prosperity/fortune
• लक्ष्मि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (वैदिक/छान्दस रूप: लक्ष्मि = लक्ष्मीम्)

• एकम्: single/one (measure: a unit of)
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (लक्ष्मि)

• वसेत्: would dwell
• वसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दिवि: in heaven
• दिवि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन (द्यु/दिव्-शब्द)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) speaking to the sages (deduced from Māheśvara Khaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A liṅga is completely covered with intact bilva leaves and mixed flowers, forming a green-gold mound; attendants arrange offerings in layers, suggesting fullness (prapūraṇa).

Characters & Entities

• Śiva Liṅga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Wholehearted ornamentation of the Śiva-liṅga—even with simple leaves—brings great merit and auspicious fortune.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; the verse praises liṅga-pūjā as a universally efficacious Śaiva practice.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Prapūraṇa of the liṅga—fully adorning/covering it with unbroken bilva leaves or assorted flowers.