Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 87

Devanagari script

अनादिमदिदं लिंगं स्वयं विश्वेश्वरार्चितम् । काश्यां प्रयत्नतः सेव्यमविमुक्तं विमुक्तये

Transliteration

anādimadidaṃ liṃgaṃ svayaṃ viśveśvarārcitam | kāśyāṃ prayatnataḥ sevyamavimuktaṃ vimuktaye

Translation

ลิงคะนี้ไร้จุดเริ่มต้น เป็นที่บูชาของพระวิศเวศวรเอง ในกาศีควรปรนนิบัติอวิมุกตะด้วยความเพียร เพื่อความหลุดพ้น

Word by Word

• अनादि-मत्: beginningless
• अनादि-मत्: Visheshana (Adjective of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि (प्रातिपदिक) + मतुप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मतुपन्त-विशेषणम् (लिङ्गस्य)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (Determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• स्वयम्: by itself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—स्वतन्त्र/निजवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable: ‘by itself’)

• विश्व-ईश्वर-अर्चितम्: worshipped by Viśveśvara
• विश्व-ईश्वर-अर्चितम्: Visheshana (Adjective of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व + ईश्वर + अर्चित (अर्च् धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (‘पूजित’); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘विश्वेश्वरेण अर्चितम्’)—विशेषणम् (लिङ्गस्य)

• काश्याम्: in Kāśī
• काश्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• प्रयत्नतः: with effort
• प्रयत्नतः: Kriya-viseshana (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रयत्नतः (अव्यय; प्रयत्न-तस्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb) — ‘प्रयत्नेन/यत्नपूर्वकं’

• सेव्यम्: to be served/worshipped
• सेव्यम्: Vidhi (Obligation/predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Gerundive/Obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्—‘सेवितव्यम्’

• अविमुक्तम्: Avimukta (the sacred place)
• अविमुक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविमुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थाननाम), द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘अविमुक्त-क्षेत्रम्’

• विमुक्तये: for liberation
• विमुक्तये: Sampradana (Purpose/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta (Avimukteśvara liṅga)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrimage audience (not specified)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A cosmic-theological tableau: the anādi Avimukta liṅga radiates; Viśveśvara is shown in reverent worship of that liṅga, while pilgrims serve with lamps and water—suggesting layered divinity and wonder.

Characters & Entities

• Avimukta
• Viśveśvara
• Kāśī (Varanasi)
• Liṅga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Avimukta in Kāśī is presented as an eternal, supremely authoritative locus of Śiva’s grace, to be served with earnest effort for mokṣa.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Avimukta in Kāśī, associated with the Avimukta Liṅga/Avimukteśvara.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Sevā—diligent service/attendance and worship of Avimukta in Kāśī.