Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 140

Devanagari script

अपारपारो दुर्ज्ञेयः सर्वभूतहिते रतः । अग्राह्यः कारणं कर्ता परमेष्ठी परं पदम्

Transliteration

apārapāro durjñeyaḥ sarvabhūtahite rataḥ | agrāhyaḥ kāraṇaṃ kartā parameṣṭhī paraṃ padam

Translation

พระองค์ไร้ทั้งฝั่งไกลและฝั่งใกล้—ไร้ขอบเขตและยากหยั่งรู้—ทรงมุ่งมั่นเพื่อประโยชน์สุขแห่งสรรพสัตว์เสมอ. ทรงไม่อาจยึดจับได้; ทรงเป็นเหตุและเป็นผู้กระทำ; เป็นปรเมษฐีและเป็นบรมคติสูงสุด.

Word by Word

• अपारपारः: without near or far shore; boundless
• अपारपारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपार (प्रातिपदिक) + पार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (अपारश्च पारश्च) समाहार/इतरेतर-भावे, विशेषण (masc. nom. sg.)

• दुर्ज्ञेयः: hard to know
• दुर्ज्ञेयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ज्ञेय (प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा (धातु) + ण्यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: 'to be known'), दुर्-उपसर्ग (masc. nom. sg.)

• सर्वभूतहिते: in the welfare of all beings
• सर्वभूतहिते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां भूतानां हिते) (neut. loc. sg.)

• रतः: devoted, engaged
• रतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक; √रम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) (masc. nom. sg.)

• अग्राह्यः: ungraspable
• अग्राह्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + ग्राह्य (प्रातिपदिक; √ग्रह् (धातु) + ण्यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक ण्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive: 'not to be grasped') (masc. nom. sg.)

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (neut. nom. sg.)

• कर्ता: doer, creator
• कर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ (धातु) + तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (agent noun) (masc. nom. sg.)

• परमेष्ठी: the Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• परमेष्ठी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थि/स्था (धातु; √स्था) → ष्ठिन्/इन्-प्रत्ययान्त प्रातिपदिक (परमेष्ठिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ (परमे स्थाने तिष्ठति इति) (masc. nom. sg.)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (neut. nom. sg.)

• पदम्: state, abode, goal
• पदम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (neut. nom. sg.)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa/Sūta (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narration to sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An iconographic ‘limitless’ deity: Skanda/Īśvara depicted with an infinite ocean-horizon metaphor (no near/far shore), radiance expanding outward, while devotees stand in awe; symbols of welfare to beings (animals, sages, common folk) included.

Characters & Entities

• Kārttikeya
• Skanda

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The divine is both transcendent (beyond grasp) and compassionate (working for all beings’ welfare), and is the highest aim of life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; this is metaphysical praise.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it frames contemplation and devotion as the implied practice.