Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 87

Devanagari script

प्रमातीतं प्रमाणानामपि बोधप्रदायिनम् । आविर्भावतिरोभाव संकोचरहितं सदा

Transliteration

pramātītaṃ pramāṇānāmapi bodhapradāyinam | āvirbhāvatirobhāva saṃkocarahitaṃ sadā

Translation

Au-delà même des moyens de connaissance, et pourtant dispensateur d’éveil ; toujours sans rétrécissement, dans l’apparition comme dans la disparition.

Word by Word

• प्रमातीतम्: beyond cognition/knowledge-measures
• प्रमातीतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमा-अतीत (प्रातिपदिक; प्रमा + अतीत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रमाणानाम्: of the means of knowledge (pramāṇas)
• प्रमाणानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थ (particle: even/also)

• बोधप्रदायिनम्: the giver of awakening/knowledge
• बोधप्रदायिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बोध-प्रदायिन् (प्रातिपदिक; बोध + प्रदायिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• आविर्भाव: manifestation
• आविर्भाव: Qualifier (विशेष्य/विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आविर्भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वस्य पूर्वपद (in compound)

• तिरोभाव: concealment
• तिरोभाव: Qualifier (विशेष्य/विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिरोभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वस्य उत्तरपद (in compound)

• संकोचरहितम्: free from contraction/limitation
• संकोचरहितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संकोच-रहित (प्रातिपदिक; संकोच + रहित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adverbial (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

Speaker

All Devas (continuation of the stuti)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Rāmeśvara (Setu)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śiva as Rāmeśvara

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A subtle play of light: the liṅga seems to ‘appear’ from radiance and ‘withdraw’ into it, while remaining unchanged; sages/devas look on in awe, suggesting the paradox of transcendence and revelation.

Characters & Entities

• Rāmeśvara (Śiva)
• Pramāṇas (means of knowledge)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ultimate truth exceeds ordinary proofs, yet the Lord grants direct realization; divinity is not diminished by cosmic appearance or withdrawal.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Rāmeśvara (Rāmeśvaram) in the Setu Māhātmya narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; the verse emphasizes jñāna-oriented praise and contemplation.