Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 120

Devanagari script

परं सदाशिवं शान्तं सूक्ष्मं ज्योतिरतीन्द्रियम् । तस्मिन्याति लयं धीरो विधिना नात्र संशयः

Transliteration

paraṃ sadāśivaṃ śāntaṃ sūkṣmaṃ jyotiratīndriyam | tasminyāti layaṃ dhīro vidhinā nātra saṃśayaḥ

Translation

परं तु सदाशिवं शान्तं सूक्ष्मं ज्योतिरतीन्द्रियम्। तस्मिन्धीरो विधिनैव लयं याति, नात्र संशयः॥

Word by Word

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• sadāśivam: Sadāśiva
• sadāśivam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadāśiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (sadā+śiva); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• śāntam: peaceful; tranquil
• śāntam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• sūkṣmam: subtle
• sūkṣmam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• jyotiḥ: light; radiance
• jyotiḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (neuter nom sg)

• atīndriyam: beyond the senses
• atīndriyam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati + indriya (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (ati+indriya); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter nom/acc sg)

• tasmin: in that (state)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन (neuter loc sg)

• yāti: goes; attains
• yāti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धाातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (present indicative, 3rd sg)

• layam: dissolution; absorption
• layam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (masc acc sg)

• dhīraḥ: the steadfast/wise man
• dhīraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (masc nom sg)

• vidhinā: by the prescribed method
• vidhinā: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन (masc instr sg)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• atra: here; in this matter
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (masc nom sg)

Speaker

Sūta (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā-tīrtha (Narmadā)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An abstract vision: a tranquil ascetic/pilgrim dissolving into a vast, subtle column-or-orb of light labeled Sadāśiva; senses symbolized as fading petals; the river below mirrors the light.

Characters & Entities

• Sadāśiva
• Atīndriya-jyotis (transcendent light)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The highest fruit is not merely heavenly enjoyment but mokṣa—merging into the transcendent Sadāśiva-light.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Amarakaṇṭaka, whose māhātmya culminates in the promise of Śaiva liberation.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

“Vidhinā” indicates attainment through proper discipline/authorized practice, though no single rite is specified in this verse.