Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

सर्वपापविशुद्ध्यर्थं शिवलोके महीयते । नीलोत्सर्गं तु यो मर्त्यः करोति च तदग्रतः

Transliteration

sarvapāpaviśuddhyarthaṃ śivaloke mahīyate | nīlotsargaṃ tu yo martyaḥ karoti ca tadagrataḥ

Translation

ସର୍ବ ପାପଶୁଦ୍ଧି ହେତୁ ସେ ଶିବଲୋକରେ ସମ୍ମାନିତ ହୁଏ; ଏବଂ ଯେ ମର୍ତ୍ୟ ସେହି (ଦେବ/ତୀର୍ଥ) ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ‘ନୀଲୋତ୍ସର୍ଗ’ କରେ, ସେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେହି ପୁଣ୍ୟ ପାଏ।

Word by Word

• सर्वपापविशुद्ध्यर्थम्: for the purpose of purification from all sins
• सर्वपापविशुद्ध्यर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + पाप + विशुद्धि + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/प्रयोजनार्थ), एकवचन; समासः—(सर्वपापानां विशुद्ध्यर्थम्) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• शिवलोके: in Śiva’s world
• शिवलोके: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य लोकः)

• महीयते: is honored/glorified
• महीयते: Kriyā (Result/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is honored/glorified)

• नीलोत्सर्गम्: the offering/releasing of a blue (item)
• नीलोत्सर्गम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील + उत्सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नीलस्य उत्सर्गः/नील-उत्सर्गः)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Discourse particle (Nipāta/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/contrast)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• मर्त्यः: a mortal
• मर्त्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• करोति: does/performs
• करोति: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• तदग्रतः: in front of him/there
• तदग्रतः: Adhikarana (Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अग्रतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverbial): तस्य अग्रतः = in front of that/him

Speaker

Unspecified (Purāṇic narrator)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Indreśvara (Dharmāraṇya)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: In front of the liṅga, a devotee performs a formal utsarga: a blue-hued offering (symbolic of 'nīla') is released/placed with mantra; priests witness; the scene suggests solemnity and otherworldly radiance hinting at Śivaloka.

Characters & Entities

• Śivaloka
• Indreśvara

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Place-based Śaiva rites and vowed offerings are presented as direct causes of purification and exalted posthumous honor.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Indreśvara/Indratīrtha within Dharmāraṇya, where the rite is performed ‘before’ the sacred presence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform nīlotsarga as a vowed offering in the deity’s/tīrtha’s presence.