Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

लिंगं तु देवदेवस्य स्थापितं शशिना स्वयम् । भवत्याऽदेशितो नित्यं नृणां विघ्नं करोति यः

Transliteration

liṃgaṃ tu devadevasya sthāpitaṃ śaśinā svayam | bhavatyā'deśito nityaṃ nṛṇāṃ vighnaṃ karoti yaḥ

Translation

The liṅga of the God of gods was established by the Moon himself. He who, being continually commanded by you, causes obstacles for men acts accordingly.

Word by Word

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga, emblem (Śiva-liṅga)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• देवदेवस्य: of the God of gods
• देवदेवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘देवानां देवः’

• स्थापितम्: installed, established
• स्थापितम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with ‘लिङ्गम्’)

• शशिना: by the Moon (Soma)
• शशिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• भवत्या: by you (lady)
• भवत्या: Karana (Instrument/agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवती (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (Feminine, Instrumental, Singular)

• आदेशितः: commanded, instructed
• आदेशितः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दिश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• नृणाम्: of men, for people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural)

• विघ्नम्: obstacle
• विघ्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• करोति: makes, causes
• करोति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd person singular)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular); सम्बन्धसूचक-यः (relative pronoun)

Speaker

Narrative voice (continuing the Goddess’s framework; speaker not explicit in this verse)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Somnātha

Type: temple

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis (implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant liṅga shrine by the sea; the Moon-god (Candra) performs the installation, pouring sacred water, while a commanded guardian stands ready to create obstacles for unworthy entrants.

Characters & Entities

• Devadeva (Śiva)
• Liṅga
• Śaśin (Moon/Candra)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Somanātha’s sanctity is affirmed through divine स्थापना (installation), and the narrative explains guarded access as part of sacred order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Somanātha-liṅga at Prabhāsakṣetra, installed by Candra (the Moon).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; it references the origin of the liṅga’s installation and ongoing guarding through vighnas.