Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । तत्र स्कंदसरो नाम सरस्सागरसन्निभम् । अमृतस्वादुशिशिरस्वच्छा गाधलघूदकम्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | tatra skaṃdasaro nāma sarassāgarasannibham | amṛtasvāduśiśirasvacchā gādhalaghūdakam

Translation

سوت نے کہا—وہاں ‘سکند سرس’ نام کی ایک جھیل تھی، جو سمندر کی مانند وسیع تھی؛ اس کا پانی امرت کی طرح شیریں، ٹھنڈا، شفاف، گہرا اور پھر بھی نرم و لطیف بہاؤ والا تھا۔

Word by Word

• sūtaḥ: Sūta
• sūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (locative adverb: 'there')

• skanda-saraḥ: the lake named Skanda-saras
• skanda-saraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: skanda (प्रातिपदिक) + saras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive: 'lake of Skanda')

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नाम-शब्दः अव्ययवत् (indeclinable usage meaning 'by name/called')

• saras: a lake
• saras: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); apposition to skanda-saraḥ

• sāgara-sannibham: resembling the ocean
• sāgara-sannibham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāgara (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); उपमान-तत्पुरुष ('like the ocean')

• amṛta-svādu-śiśira-svaccham: nectar-sweet, cool, and clear
• amṛta-svādu-śiśira-svaccham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + svādu (प्रातिपदिक) + śiśira (प्रातिपदिक) + svaccha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); बहुपद-कर्मधारय (co-ordinate descriptive: 'nectar-sweet, cool, clear')

• gādha-laghu-udakam: (having) deep yet light water
• gādha-laghu-udakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gādha (प्रातिपदिक) + laghu (प्रातिपदिक) + udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय ('deep and light water')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Skanda-saras is introduced as a sacred lake near Kumāraśikhara on Meru; its extraordinary qualities (nectar-sweet, cool, crystal-clear) mark it as a tīrtha prepared by divine order for purification and auspicious encounters.

Significance: Tīrtha-māhātmya by description: such waters signify inner purification (mala-kṣaya) and readiness for anugraha; bathing/approach to such a lake is a classic purāṇic prelude to revelation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Skanda

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

By describing Skanda-saras as ocean-like and nectar-sweet, the Purana signals a tīrtha whose purity and depth symbolize inner purification—clarity (svacchatā) and coolness (śītala-śānti) that support Shaiva inwardness and devotion.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In Shaiva narrative settings, such sacred waters commonly frame temple worship and linga-upāsanā: the tīrtha’s ‘clear and cool’ qualities mirror the sattvic preparation expected before approaching Saguna Shiva through abhiṣeka, japa, and pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse most directly suggests tīrtha-snān (ritual bathing) and mental purification before worship—followed by calm japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) in a serene, steady mind.