Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

जल्पंति नानागमभेदैर्मीमांसमानाश्च भवंति मूकाः । नानागमार्चायमतप्रभेदैर्निरूप्यमाणो जगदेकबंधुः

Transliteration

jalpaṃti nānāgamabhedairmīmāṃsamānāśca bhavaṃti mūkāḥ | nānāgamārcāyamataprabhedairnirūpyamāṇo jagadekabaṃdhuḥ

Translation

ജനങ്ങൾ നാനാ ആഗമഭേദങ്ങൾ പറഞ്ഞ് പ്രലപിക്കുന്നു; വെറും മീമാംസാ-വാദത്തിൽ മുങ്ങിയവർ സത്യത്തിന്റെ മുമ്പിൽ മൗനമാകുന്നു. നാനാ ആഗമാർച്ചനാരൂപങ്ങളും മതഭേദങ്ങളും വഴി വിവരണീയനായാലും അവൻ ജഗത്തിന്റെ ഏകബന്ധുവാണ്.

Word by Word

• jalpanti: they prattle/argue
• jalpanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jalp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• nānā-āgama-bhedaiḥ: by differences of various Āgamas
• nānā-āgama-bhedaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + āgama (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (आगमानां भेदाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• mīmāṃsamānāḥ: investigating/arguing
• mīmāṃsamānāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mīmāṃs (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘inquiring/arguing’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• bhavanti: they become
• bhavanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• mūkāḥ: mute/speechless
• mūkāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• nānā-āgama-arcāya-mata-prabhedaiḥ: by distinctions of various Āgamas, worship-forms, and doctrines
• nānā-āgama-arcāya-mata-prabhedaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + āgama (प्रातिपदिक) + arcāya (प्रातिपदिक) + mata (प्रातिपदिक) + prabheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास (प्रभेदाः—आगम/अर्चा/मत-सम्बन्धिनः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• nirūpyamāṇaḥ: being expounded
• nirūpyamāṇaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√rūp (धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘being described/defined’

• jagat-eka-bandhuḥ: the sole kinsman of the world
• jagat-eka-bandhuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक) + bandhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (जगतः एकः बन्धुः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa Sūta (deduced: reflective doctrinal narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra / Kedārakṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A circle of disputants with scrolls arguing; their speech fades as a radiant Śiva-linga/light appears; diverse āgamic worship items (bilva, vibhūti, rudrākṣa, lamps) surround one central Lord labeled ‘Jagadeka-bandhu’.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (implied as jagadekabandhu)
• Āgamas
• Mīmāṃsā (debate/tradition, implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Doctrinal quarrels cannot grasp the Supreme; beyond many paths and descriptions, the Lord remains one and universally benevolent.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedāra Śaiva setting is the frame; the verse emphasizes the universality of Śiva worship that supports pilgrimage faith across traditions.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it comments on worship traditions and doctrinal diversity rather than prescribing a rite.