Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

पूजयेत्परया भक्त्या शूलपाणिं महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

pūjayetparayā bhaktyā śūlapāṇiṃ maheśvaram

Translation

至上の信愛をもって、三叉戟を執る主マヘーシュヴァラ（Maheśvara）を礼拝すべきである。

Word by Word

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धा॒तु)
• Form: Liṅ-lakāra (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Singular

• parayā: supreme, intense
• parayā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; used adjectivally with bhaktyā

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• śūla-pāṇim: the trident-holder
• śūla-pāṇim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; बहुव्रीहि-समास: ‘yasya pāṇau śūlam asti’ (one whose hand holds a trident)

• maheśvaram: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• maheśvaram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kambalakṣetra (Maheśvara/Śūlapāṇi worship)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee offers worship to Śiva holding the trident; the shrine glows with lamp-light; bilva leaves and water offerings are prominent; the atmosphere is reverent and still.

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Śūlapāṇi (trident-bearer)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True tīrtha practice is completed by heartfelt devotion—worship of Śiva with sincere bhakti is central.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The ongoing Kambalakṣetra/tīrtha context of Adhyāya 44, where Śiva worship is prescribed.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform pūjā to Śiva (Maheśvara), specifically as Śūlapāṇi, with supreme devotion.