Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

सुखावतरणारोहैः स्थलैर्नीलशिलामयैः । सोपानमार्गौ रुचिरैश्शोभमानाष्टदिङ्मुखम्

Transliteration

sukhāvataraṇārohaiḥ sthalairnīlaśilāmayaiḥ | sopānamārgau ruciraiśśobhamānāṣṭadiṅmukham

Translation

Ia bersinar dengan teres-teres indah untuk turun dan naik dengan mudah, diperbuat daripada batu biru gelap; serta laluan tangga yang elok—gemilang menghadap lapan penjuru arah.

Word by Word

• सुख-अवतरण-आरोहैः: by easy descents and ascents (approaches)
• सुख-अवतरण-आरोहैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतरण (प्रातिपदिक) + आरोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• स्थलैः: by/with platforms/grounds
• स्थलैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• नील-शिला-मयैः: made of blue stone
• नील-शिला-मयैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + शिला (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying स्थलैः)

• सोपान-मार्गौ: the two stair-paths / stairways
• सोपान-मार्गौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोपान (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• रुचिरैः: with beautiful (features)
• रुचिरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (instrumental of manner/means)

• शोभमानम्: shining/appearing splendid
• शोभमानम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √शुभ् (धातु) (कृदन्त; शॊभमान = शॊभ् + शानच्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (present participle, Ātmanepada)

• अष्ट-दिक्-मुखम्: having faces/openings to the eight directions
• अष्ट-दिक्-मुखम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of an implied noun like भवनम्/मण्डपम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse is architectural/setting-description (a tīrtha/temple approach with terraces and stairways), not a specific Jyotirliṅga origin episode.

Significance: Evokes the ordered, accessible approach to sacred space—suggesting that the Lord’s grace is approached through regulated movement (niyama) and purity.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

By describing a structure facing all eight directions, the verse points to Shiva as Pati—the all-pervading Lord—accessible to devotees from every quarter, symbolizing His universal grace and protection over the cosmos.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The orderly terraces and stairways evoke temple approach and darśana: Saguna Shiva is approached step-by-step through devotion and purity, culminating in direct worship—often centered on the Liṅga as the visible focus of the formless Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is directional reverence and pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation) with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—treating every direction as sanctified by Shiva’s presence.