Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

श्यामलं च उपस्थं च रूपातीतान्नराः शिवम् । हृदिस्थं सिरशिस्थं च द्वयं बद्धविमुक्तये

Transliteration

śyāmalaṃ ca upasthaṃ ca rūpātītānnarāḥ śivam | hṛdisthaṃ siraśisthaṃ ca dvayaṃ baddhavimuktaye

Translation

صورت سے ماورا ہو کر لوگ ظاہری شکلوں سے پرے شیو کو ڈھونڈتے ہیں؛ اور بندھن میں پڑوں کی نجات کے لیے وہ دوہری حضوری کا دھیان کرتے ہیں—دل میں بسنے والا شیو اور سر میں بسنے والا شیو۔

Word by Word

• श्यामलम्: dark/blackish
• श्यामलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्यामल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjective)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उपस्थम्: the lap; the genital region
• उपस्थम्: Karma/Viṣaya (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• रूपातीतान्: those who have transcended form
• रूपातीतान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप + अतीत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Accusative, Plural; adjective); समासः—षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषः (rūpasya atītaḥ)

• नराः: men; persons
• नराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• शिवम्: Śiva; auspicious one
• शिवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• हृदिस्थम्: situated in the heart
• हृदिस्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृदि + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjective); समासः—सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (hṛdi stham)

• सिरशिस्थम्: situated in the head
• सिरशिस्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिरसि + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjective); समासः—सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (śirasi stham)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• द्वयम्: the pair; the twofold (thing)
• द्वयम्: Karma/Viṣaya (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• बद्धविमुक्तये: for the liberation of the bound
• बद्धविमुक्तये: Sampradāna (Purpose/Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बद्ध + विमुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन (Feminine, Dative, Singular); समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (baddhānāṃ vimuktiḥ / baddha-vimuktiḥ)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from didactic flow; verse is yogic/shaiva contemplation instruction)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim before a Śiva shrine dissolves the external icon into a luminous presence within: one glow in the heart lotus and another at the crown; chains around the figure loosen and fall, symbolizing release from bondage.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Liberation comes through transcending sense-bound identity and realizing Śiva inwardly as the indwelling presence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is named; the verse emphasizes inner realization aligned with the māhātmya’s purificatory purpose.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A contemplative practice is implied: meditate on Śiva as present in the heart and in the head for release from bondage.