Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

श्यामलं च उपस्थं च रूपातीतान्नराः शिवम् । हृदिस्थं सिरशिस्थं च द्वयं बद्धविमुक्तये

Transliteration

śyāmalaṃ ca upasthaṃ ca rūpātītānnarāḥ śivam | hṛdisthaṃ siraśisthaṃ ca dvayaṃ baddhavimuktaye

Translation

രൂപാതീതനായ ശിവനെ ജനങ്ങൾ അന്വേഷിക്കുന്നു—അന്തരസ്ഥ ശ്യാമലസ്വരൂപമായും ഉപസ്ഥസ്ഥ ശക്തിരൂപമായും. ബന്ധിതരുടെ വിമുക്തിക്കായി അവർ ദ്വിവിധ സാന്നിധ്യം ധ്യാനിക്കുന്നു—ഹൃദയസ്ഥ ശിവനും ശിരസ്ഥ ശിവനും.

Word by Word

• श्यामलम्: dark/blackish
• श्यामलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्यामल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjective)

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

• उपस्थम्: the lap; the genital region
• उपस्थम्: Karma/Viṣaya (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

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

• रूपातीतान्: those who have transcended form
• रूपातीतान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप + अतीत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Accusative, Plural; adjective); समासः—षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषः (rūpasya atītaḥ)

• नराः: men; persons
• नराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• शिवम्: Śiva; auspicious one
• शिवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• हृदिस्थम्: situated in the heart
• हृदिस्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृदि + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjective); समासः—सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (hṛdi stham)

• सिरशिस्थम्: situated in the head
• सिरशिस्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिरसि + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjective); समासः—सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (śirasi stham)

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

• द्वयम्: the pair; the twofold (thing)
• द्वयम्: Karma/Viṣaya (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• बद्धविमुक्तये: for the liberation of the bound
• बद्धविमुक्तये: Sampradāna (Purpose/Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बद्ध + विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन (Feminine, Dative, Singular); समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (baddhānāṃ vimuktiḥ / baddha-vimuktiḥ)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from didactic flow; verse is yogic/shaiva contemplation instruction)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim before a Śiva shrine dissolves the external icon into a luminous presence within: one glow in the heart lotus and another at the crown; chains around the figure loosen and fall, symbolizing release from bondage.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Liberation comes through transcending sense-bound identity and realizing Śiva inwardly as the indwelling presence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is named; the verse emphasizes inner realization aligned with the māhātmya’s purificatory purpose.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A contemplative practice is implied: meditate on Śiva as present in the heart and in the head for release from bondage.