Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 111

Devanagari script

एवमन्यैः सुरैर्यानि पार्थिवैर्मुनिभिस्तथा । संस्तापितानि लिंगानि तन्न संख्यातुमुत्सहे

Transliteration

evamanyaiḥ surairyāni pārthivairmunibhistathā | saṃstāpitāni liṃgāni tanna saṃkhyātumutsahe

Translation

ฉันใดก็ฉันนั้น ลึงค์ทั้งหลายที่เทพองค์อื่น ๆ กษัตริย์บนแผ่นดิน และเหล่ามุนีได้สถาปนาไว้—ข้าพเจ้าไม่อาจนับให้ครบได้

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• अन्यैः: by other
• अन्यैः: Karana (Instrument/Agent group)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सुरैः: by gods
• सुरैः: Karana (Agent/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यानि: which (liṅgas)
• यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• पार्थिवैः: by kings/earthly rulers
• पार्थिवैः: Karana (Agent/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (Agent/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• संस्थापितानि: installed/established
• संस्थापितानि: Karma-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate of object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्थापय् (धातु √स्थाप्, णिच्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• लिङ्गानि: liṅgas
• लिङ्गानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तत्: that (number/extent)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘तत्’ = ‘that (matter/number)’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• संख्यातुम्: to count
• संख्यातुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + ख्या (धातु √ख्या)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive (भावे), ‘संख्यातुम्’ = ‘to count/enumerate’

• उत्सहे: I am able/dare
• उत्सहे: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + सह् (धातु √सह्)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sweeping panorama: devas in the sky, kings on earth, sages in forests—each installing liṅgas across varied landscapes (rivers, mountains, cities). The narrator’s gesture indicates ‘too many to count,’ with countless small shrines dotting the horizon.

Characters & Entities

• Sura (gods)
• Pārthiva (kings)
• Muni (sages)
• Śiva-liṅga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Shaiva merit is portrayed as vast and immeasurable—liṅga-pratiṣṭhā is so widespread among gods, kings, and sages that its instances are beyond counting.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tirtha is named in this verse; the emphasis is on the widespread sacred practice of establishing Śiva-liṅgas across holy places.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Liṅga-pratiṣṭhā (establishing/consecrating a Śiva-liṅga) is referenced as a meritorious act.