Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

अतिश्रेष्ठतरं लिंगं श्रेयोरूपं त्रिलोचनम्

Transliteration

atiśreṣṭhataraṃ liṃgaṃ śreyorūpaṃ trilocanam

Translation

అత్యంత శ్రేష్ఠమైన లింగం త్రిలోచనం—అది శ్రేయస్సు, పరమ మంగళ స్వరూపం.

Word by Word

• अतिश्रेष्ठतरम्: most excellent/superior
• अतिश्रेष्ठतरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + tara (तर-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (ati + śreṣṭhatara) 'अत्यन्तं श्रेष्ठतरम्'

• लिंगम्: liṅga
• लिंगम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रेयोरूपम्: having the form of supreme good
• श्रेयोरूपम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śreyasaḥ rūpam)

• त्रिलोचनम्: Trilocana (the three-eyed one, Śiva)
• त्रिलोचनम्: Samanaadhikarana (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (शिवनाम), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (yasya trīṇi locanāni saḥ)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced; Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda to Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Trilocana-liṅga

Type: temple

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The Trilocana-liṅga stands in a sanctum suffused with calm radiance; above it, a subtle suggestion of Śiva’s third eye (trinetra) appears as a luminous mark, signifying śreyas and liberation.

Characters & Entities

• Trilocana-liṅga
• Śiva (Trilocana)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The highest welfare (śreyas) is linked to devotion centered on Śiva’s supreme manifestation as Trilocana in Kāśī.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Trilocana-liṅga (a specific Śiva-liṅga shrine/site within the Kāśī sacred landscape).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicit liṅga-darśana/upāsanā (worship/approach) is praised; no detailed procedure is stated.