Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

शिवाचार्यैर्विमुक्तोऽहं पशुपाशैस्तदागमात् । निर्वाहदीक्षापर्यंतान्संस्कारान्प्राप्य सर्वतः

Transliteration

śivācāryairvimukto'haṃ paśupāśaistadāgamāt | nirvāhadīkṣāparyaṃtānsaṃskārānprāpya sarvataḥ

Translation

ആ ആഗമപരമ്പര പ്രകാരം ശൈവ ആചാര്യർ എന്നെ പശുപാശബന്ധങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് വിമുക്തനാക്കി; നിർവാഹദീക്ഷ വരെ ഉള്ള എല്ലാ സംസ്കാരങ്ങളും ഞാൻ സമഗ്രമായി പ്രാപിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• शिवाचार्यैः: by Śiva-teachers
• शिवाचार्यैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य आचार्याः)

• विमुक्तः: freed/liberated
• विमुक्तः: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-मुच् (धातु) → विमुक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पशुपाशैः: from the bonds of the soul (paśu-bonds)
• पशुपाशैः: Hetu/Apādāna (Cause/Separation context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक) + पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पशोः पाशाः)

• तदागमात्: from that scripture/tradition
• तदागमात्: Apādāna (Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (तस्य आगमः)

• निर्वाहदीक्षापर्यन्तान्: extending up to the nirvāha-initiation
• निर्वाहदीक्षापर्यन्तान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of ‘saṃskārān’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वाह (प्रातिपदिक) + दीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—निर्वाहदीक्षापर्यन्त (up to the nirvāha-dīkṣā)

• संस्कारान्: rites/sacraments
• संस्कारान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव

• सर्वतः: in every way/entirely
• सर्वतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Kuśadhvaja

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A lineage of Śaiva ācāryas stands behind the initiating guru; the disciple’s bonds (ropes/serpentine fetters) fall away as mantras are conferred; a palm-leaf āgama text is visible; the final rite ‘nirvāha-dīkṣā’ is symbolized by a completed ritual circle and calm radiance.

Characters & Entities

• Śivācārya
• Āgama
• Paśupāśa
• Nirvāhadīkṣā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Liberation is mediated through authentic lineage and disciplined initiation: the guru and Āgamic path cut the soul’s fetters.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is named; the verse glorifies the Śaiva Āgamic path and the authority of Śivācāryas.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Receiving a sequence of saṃskāras culminating in nirvāha-dīkṣā under Śaiva teachers, in accordance with Āgama.