Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

ऋषिभिः पातितं लिंगं देवदेवस्य शूलिनः । शापेनानर्तके देशे कलत्रार्थे महात्मभिः

Transliteration

ṛṣibhiḥ pātitaṃ liṃgaṃ devadevasya śūlinaḥ | śāpenānartake deśe kalatrārthe mahātmabhiḥ

Translation

دیوتاؤں کے دیوتا، شُولین (مہادیو) کا لِنگ رِشیوں نے گرا دیا؛ عظیم النفس مُنیوں کے شاپ سے انرتک دیس میں، زوجہ کے معاملے کے سبب۔

Word by Word

• ऋषिभिः: by sages
• ऋषिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन — 'by sages'

• पातितम्: made to fall
• पातितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — 'caused to fall/overthrown'

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — 'liṅga'

• देवदेवस्य: of the God of gods
• देवदेवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां देवः) — 'of the god of gods'

• शूलिनः: of the trident-bearer (Śiva)
• शूलिनः: Sambandha (Genitive apposition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — epithet 'bearing a trident'

• शापेन: by a curse
• शापेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन — 'by a curse'

• अनर्तके: in Anartaka (region)
• अनर्तके: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनर्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन — qualifying 'deśe'

• देशे: in the land
• देशे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन — 'in the land'

• कलत्रार्थे: for the sake of a wife
• कलत्रार्थे: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलत्र + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषः (कलत्राय अर्थः) — 'for the sake of a wife' (purpose)

• महात्मभिः: by great souls
• महात्मभिः: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन — 'by great-souled ones'

Speaker

Brahmā

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Anartaka-kṣetra (liṅga-sthāna implied)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Surasattamāḥ (gods)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of austere ṛṣis, blazing with tapas, utter a curse; a radiant liṅga is shown toppled or displaced onto the earth of Anarta, while the sky darkens in response.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Śūlin, Devadeva)
• Liṅga
• Ṛṣis
• Anartaka (Anarta region)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even holy sages’ actions and curses can shape sacred geography; restoring what is displaced becomes a dharmic necessity for the welfare of worlds.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative points to a Śaiva sacred locus in the Anarta/Anartaka region connected with the fallen liṅga of Mahādeva.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Not directly; the implied dharmic act is to re-establish the liṅga in its proper place.