Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 1

Devanagari script

एवं तत्र स्थिते तीरे देव्याराधनतत्परे । सप्तलिंगार्चनरते भीमनन्दननन्दने

Transliteration

evaṃ tatra sthite tīre devyārādhanatatpare | saptaliṃgārcanarate bhīmanandananandane

Translation

Thus he remained on that riverbank, intent on worship of the Goddess Devī, rejoicing in the adoration of seven liṅgas; Barbarīka, Bhīma’s grandson, continued to stay there.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Desha-Kala (Adverbial/देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• sthite: when (he/it) was staying
• sthite: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (कृदन्त; √sthā धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• tīre: on the bank/shore
• tīre: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी-सहचर

• devī-ārādhana-tatpare: intent on worship of the Goddess
• devī-ārādhana-tatpare: Adhikarana (State/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक) + ārādhana (प्रातिपदिक) + tatpara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी; ‘देव्याः आराधने तत्परः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्रायः

• sapta-liṅga-arcana-rate: engaged in worship of seven liṅgas
• sapta-liṅga-arcana-rate: Adhikarana (State/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (संख्या) + liṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + arcana (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (कृदन्त; √ram धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी; ‘सप्तलिङ्गानाम् अर्चने रतः’ इति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• bhīma-nandana-nandane: in the grove/park of Bhīma’s son
• bhīma-nandana-nandane: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक-समासः; ‘भीमनन्दनस्य नन्दने’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Narrator (within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa addressing sages)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: On a quiet riverbank, Barbarīka (Bhīma’s grandson) performs Devī worship and delights in the adoration of seven liṅgas arranged as a small sacred circuit; the river flows gently beside the shrine-stones.

Characters & Entities

• Barbarīka
• Bhīma
• Devī
• Saptaliṅga (seven liṅgas)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Steady devotion at a sacred riverside, combining Devī worship with liṅga-arcana, is portrayed as an ideal sādhana.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A ‘tīra’ (sacred riverbank) is referenced but not named in this verse; the passage frames a tīrtha-like devotional setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Saptaliṅga-arcana—worship of seven liṅgas—is explicitly mentioned.