Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामिह लिंगानां रत्नभूतमिदं परम् । अतो रत्नेश्वरं नाम परं निर्वाणरत्नदम्

Transliteration

sarveṣāmiha liṃgānāṃ ratnabhūtamidaṃ param | ato ratneśvaraṃ nāma paraṃ nirvāṇaratnadam

Translation

ଏଠାର ସମସ୍ତ ଲିଙ୍ଗମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଏହା ପରମ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ରତ୍ନସ୍ୱରୂପ। ତେଣୁ ଏହାର ନାମ ‘ରତ୍ନେଶ୍ୱର’—ଯିଏ ନିର୍ବାଣ-ରତ୍ନର ପରମ ଦାତା।

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• इह: here
• इह: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: here)

• लिङ्गानाम्: of liṅgas
• लिङ्गानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• रत्न-भूतम्: become a jewel; jewel-like
• रत्न-भूतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘इदम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; भू धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘भूत’ = become; विशेषण

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: सम्बन्ध (Logical connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (therefore/from this)

• रत्नेश्वरम्: Ratneśvara
• रत्नेश्वरम्: समानााधिकरण (Predicate/apposition with ‘नाम’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); नाम (proper name)

• नाम: (it is) named
• नाम: प्रत्यय (Naming/predicate marker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); ‘नाम’ इति नामनिर्देश

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• निर्वाण-रत्न-दम्: giver of the jewel of liberation
• निर्वाण-रत्न-दम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of the named entity)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वाण (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; दा धातोः क)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular); ‘निर्वाणस्य रत्नं ददाति’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष; विशेषण

Speaker

Śiva (Devadeva)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ratneśvara-liṅga

Type: temple

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Umā (Pārvatī)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant Ratneśvara liṅga appears jewel-like, emitting a crystalline light; devotees perceive it as the ‘gem of liberation’ amid Kāśī’s sacred ambience.

Characters & Entities

• Ratneśvara
• Liṅga
• Nirvāṇa (Mokṣa)
• Kāśī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The text elevates Ratneśvara as a supreme śaiva emblem whose worship is oriented toward mokṣa.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī, through the special glorification of Ratneśvara-liṅga within its sacred landscape.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The verse implies devotion and worship of Ratneśvara for the attainment of liberation (nirvāṇa).