Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 44

Devanagari script

तथामरेश्वरे याम्ये लिङ्गं वै चपलेश्वरम् । द्वितीयं चण्डहस्ताख्यं द्वे लिङ्गे तीर्थरक्षके

Transliteration

tathāmareśvare yāmye liṅgaṃ vai capaleśvaram | dvitīyaṃ caṇḍahastākhyaṃ dve liṅge tīrtharakṣake

Translation

അതുപോലെ അമരേശ്വരത്തിന്റെ തെക്കുഭാഗത്ത് ‘ചപലേശ്വര’ എന്ന ലിംഗം ഉണ്ട്; രണ്ടാമത്തേത് ‘ചണ്ഡഹസ്ത’ എന്ന പേരിൽ—ഈ രണ്ടു ലിംഗങ്ങളും തീർത്ഥരക്ഷകർ.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• अमरेश्वरे: at Amareśvara
• अमरेश्वरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमरेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• याम्ये: in the southern (part)
• याम्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying the location: southern)

• लिङ्गम्: a liṅga (Śiva-emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• चपलेश्वरम्: Capaleśvara
• चपलेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चपल-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय (चपलः ईश्वरः)

• द्वितीयम्: the second
• द्वितीयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• चण्डहस्त-आख्यम्: named Caṇḍahasta
• चण्डहस्त-आख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चण्डहस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (चण्डहस्त-आख्यः = named 'Caṇḍahasta')

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual)

• लिङ्गे: liṅgas
• लिङ्गे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual)

• तीर्थ-रक्षके: protectors of the tīrtha
• तीर्थ-रक्षके: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तीर्थस्य रक्षकौ)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Skanda Purana narrative framework)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Capaleśvara and Caṇḍahasta (tīrtha-rakṣaka liṅgas)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A southern approach path from Amareśvara with two small liṅga shrines—Capaleśvara and Caṇḍahasta—standing like sentinels; pilgrims pause to bow before continuing toward the river-ghāṭa.

Characters & Entities

• Amareśvara
• Capaleśvara
• Caṇḍahasta
• Śiva-liṅga
• Tīrtha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva-liṅgas are not only objects of worship but also guardians of sacred landscapes and tīrthas.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Amareśvara region, especially the southern sector marked by Capaleśvara and Caṇḍahasta liṅgas.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicit liṅga-darśana and worship; the verse explicitly identifies the liṅgas as tīrtha-protectors.