Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 196

Devanagari script

यादृशास्तादृशाश्चान्ये शिवभक्तिपुरस्कृताः । तेऽपि गच्छंति सांनिध्यं देवदेवस्य शूलिनः

Transliteration

yādṛśāstādṛśāścānye śivabhaktipuraskṛtāḥ | te'pi gacchaṃti sāṃnidhyaṃ devadevasya śūlinaḥ

Translation

人がいかなる者であれ、いかなる類であれ—シヴァへのバクティを先として歩むなら—彼らもまた、三叉戟を執る神々の神、シューリンの御前に至る。

Word by Word

• यादृशाः: of whatever kind
• यादृशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (adjectival)

• तादृशाः: of that kind / such
• तादृशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-प्रयोग (pronominal adjective used substantively)

• शिवभक्तिपुरस्कृताः: having devotion to Śiva placed foremost / led by Śiva-bhakti
• शिवभक्तिपुरस्कृताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव-भक्ति-पुरस्कृत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—(शिवस्य भक्तिः) + पुरस्कृत (पुरस् + √कृ (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपि: also / even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/inclusion)

• गच्छन्ति: go / attain
• गच्छन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• सान्निध्यम्: presence / proximity
• सान्निध्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सान्निध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• देवदेवस्य: of the God of gods
• देवदेवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; समासः—देवानां देवः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• शूलिनः: of the trident-bearer (Śiva)
• शूलिनः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-नाम (epithet)

Speaker

Lomaśa (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narration to sages)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra / Kedārakṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A diverse assembly of pilgrims—ascetics, householders, the poor and the learned—stand before Śiva as Śūlin, experiencing his immediate presence; the emphasis is inclusivity through devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Śūlin, Devadeva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva-bhakti is the decisive qualification; it leads devotees of any background to Śiva’s divine proximity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of Kedārakhaṇḍa’s Kedāra-centered praise; the immediate focus is the fruit of devotion rather than a named spot.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The prescription is devotional primacy—placing Śiva-bhakti foremost—rather than a detailed rite.