Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

केवलं कर्मणा त्वं हि संसारात्तर्तुमिच्छसि

Transliteration

kevalaṃ karmaṇā tvaṃ hi saṃsārāttartumicchasi

Translation

நீ உண்மையாகவே செயல் (கர்மம்) ஒன்றினாலேயே சம்சாரத்தைத் தாண்ட விரும்புகிறாய்.

Word by Word

• केवलम्: only, merely
• केवलम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• कर्मणा: by action, through karma
• कर्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुषार्थे सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हि: indeed, surely
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle (emphasis/indeed)

• संसारात्: from saṃsāra (worldly cycle)
• संसारात्: Apadana (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• तर्तुम्: to cross
• तर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तॄ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), अर्थः—कर्तुं/To cross

• इच्छसि: you desire
• इच्छसि: Kriya (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Śiva (Hara/Rudra)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra / Kedāranātha

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: A seeker oriented to karma (contextually Dakṣa and/or ritual-minded beings in the episode)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A seeker at Kedāra is admonished: ‘You wish to cross saṃsāra by action alone.’ The setting suggests a Himalayan shrine precinct, with Śiva’s presence implied as the true ferryman beyond ritualism.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Dakṣa (implied addressee)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual action alone is insufficient for liberation; inner transformation and knowledge must accompany practice.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedārakhaṇḍa frames pilgrimage merit as most fruitful when joined with right understanding, reflecting the kṣetra’s liberative purpose.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No prescription—rather, a critique of relying exclusively on karma (ritual works).