Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

ज्ञाननिष्ठाश्च ये केचित्परस्परविरोधिनः । एवं संशयमापन्नं त्राहि मां वृषभध्वज

Transliteration

jñānaniṣṭhāśca ye kecitparasparavirodhinaḥ | evaṃ saṃśayamāpannaṃ trāhi māṃ vṛṣabhadhvaja

Translation

Même ceux qui sont établis dans la « connaissance » se contredisent entre eux. Ainsi tombé dans le doute, sauve-moi, ô Seigneur au drapeau du Taureau (Śiva).

Word by Word

• jñāna-niṣṭhāḥ: steadfast in knowledge
• jñāna-niṣṭhāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ज्ञाने निष्ठा येषाम्/ज्ञाने निष्ठाः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction ‘and’)

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (‘who’)

• kecit: some
• kecit: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (‘some’)

• paraspara-virodhinaḥ: mutually contradictory
• paraspara-virodhinaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक) + virodhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परस्परस्य विरोधिनः)

• evaṃ: thus
• evaṃ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb ‘thus’)

• saṃśayam: doubt
• saṃśayam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• āpannam: fallen into / reached
• āpannam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-pad (धातु) → āpanna (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘having reached/entered’ (agreeing with saṃśayam understood as state reached)

• trāhi: save (me)
• trāhi: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: trā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• mām: me
• mām: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• vṛṣabha-dhvaja: O bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• vṛṣabha-dhvaja: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (वृषभः ध्वजः यस्य सः)

Speaker

Gaṇeśa

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra / Kedāranātha

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee, hands folded, kneels before Śiva marked by the bull-banner; behind him, disputants still argue. The devotee’s face shows earnest vulnerability; Śiva’s presence is calm and protective.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Vṛṣabhadhvaja)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When intellectual paths conflict and produce doubt, refuge in Śiva—the inner teacher—restores clarity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedārakhaṇḍa provides the sacred Kedāra setting; the verse itself is a personal supplication rather than a site-eulogy.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a prayer for guidance and protection.