Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

देशकालक्रियायोगाद्यथाग्नेर्भेदसम्भवः । तथा विषयभेदेन त्वमेकोऽपि विभिद्यसे

Transliteration

deśakālakriyāyogādyathāgnerbhedasambhavaḥ | tathā viṣayabhedena tvameko'pi vibhidyase

Translation

ดุจดังไฟที่ดูเหมือนแตกต่างไปตามสถานที่ กาลเวลา และการกระทำ, ฉันนั้นเอง พระองค์แม้ทรงเป็นหนึ่งเดียว ก็ทรงปรากฏเป็นหลากหลายตามความแตกต่างแห่งอารมณ์และบริบททั้งหลาย.

Word by Word

• देशकालक्रियायोगात्: from the conjunction of place, time, and action
• देशकालक्रियायोगात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश-काल-क्रिया-योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (योग), पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; समासः—देशेन कालेन क्रियया योगः (तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparative/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक अव्यय (as/just as)

• अग्नेः: of fire
• अग्नेः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठī)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• भेदसम्भवः: arising of differentiation; variety arises
• भेदसम्भवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद-सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; समासः—भेदस्य सम्भवः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• तथा: so; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Correlative/तथात्व)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तद्वत्/एवमेव अर्थे अव्यय (so; likewise)

• विषयभेदेन: by difference of objects/domains
• विषयभेदेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय-भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (भेद), तृतीया (3), एकवचन; समासः—विषयस्य भेदेन (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

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

• एकः: one; single
• एकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अपि: even though
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपवादार्थक अव्यय (even/though)

• विभिद्यसे: you are differentiated; you appear as divided
• विभिद्यसे: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Devotees/Sages (hymning Śiva in the Aruṇācalamāhātmya narrative context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Aruṇācala

Type: peak

Visual Art Cues

Scene: One central flame is shown reflected and divided across different lamps/contexts (place-time-action), paralleling Śiva’s one essence appearing as many; Aruṇācala stands as the steady axis behind changing scenes of worship.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The One Reality (Śiva) appears as many due to conditions and viewpoints; diversity does not negate unity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Aruṇācala, as a setting for teachings that link sacred form-vision with deeper unity.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it offers a philosophical clarification supporting worship of forms without losing sight of oneness.