Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 118

Devanagari script

लोकानां च हितार्थाय केदारं लिङ्गमुत्तमम् । अत्रीशादुत्तरे भागे महापापप्रणाशनम्

Transliteration

lokānāṃ ca hitārthāya kedāraṃ liṅgamuttamam | atrīśāduttare bhāge mahāpāpapraṇāśanam

Translation

உலகங்களின் நலனுக்காக ‘கேதார’ எனப்படும் உத்தம லிங்கம், அத்ரீசரின் வடபுறத்தில் நிறுவப்பட்டது; அது மகாபாபங்களை அழிப்பது।

Word by Word

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन — genitive plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक-निपात)

• हितार्थाय: for (their) welfare
• हितार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हितार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन — dative singular; समास: हित+अर्थ (तत्पुरुष) = 'for the sake of welfare'

• केदारम्: Kedara
• केदारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केदार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular

• लिङ्गम्: (Shiva-)linga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (Apposition/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular; केदारम् इति विशेषण/नामविशेषः

• उत्तमम्: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमम्: Karma (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular; विशेषण (to लिङ्गम्)

• अत्रीशात्: from Atrīśa
• अत्रीशात्: Apadana (Source/अवधि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन — ablative singular; समास: अत्रि+ईश (तत्पुरुष)

• उत्तरे: in the northern
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — locative singular; विशेषण (to भागे)

• भागे: part/region
• भागे: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — locative singular

• महापापप्रणाशनम्: destroyer of great sins
• महापापप्रणाशनम्: Karma (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महापापप्रणाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular; समास: महा+पाप+प्रणाशन (तत्पुरुष) विशेषण (to लिङ्गम्)

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra-liṅga (within Mahīnagaraka/Atrīśa complex)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A majestic Kedāra-liṅga is installed on the northern side of Atrīśa; sages and priests mark the boundary with flags and lamps; the liṅga radiates a protective, sin-destroying aura for all worlds.

Characters & Entities

• Kedāra-liṅga
• Atrīśa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva’s presence as Kedāra-liṅga is portrayed as world-benefiting and sin-destroying, encouraging pilgrimage and worship.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra-liṅga located to the north of Atrīśa (as per this chapter’s local sacred map).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicitly, darśana and worship of Kedāra-liṅga for removal of grave sins; no detailed procedure here.