Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 72
गुणत्रयमयं शूलं शूली यस्माद्बिभार्ते सः । अबद्धाः सर्वतो मुक्ता भूता एव च तत्पतिः
guṇatrayamayaṃ śūlaṃ śūlī yasmādbibhārte saḥ | abaddhāḥ sarvato muktā bhūtā eva ca tatpatiḥ
因他执持由三种古那（guṇa）所成的三叉戟，故称为“持戟者”（Śūlī）。又因诸有情（bhūta）本性实为无缚、四方解脱，故他亦为其主宰。
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), deduced for Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narration
Listener: Brāhmaṇa (bhāṣiṣṭha)
Scene: Śiva stands serene holding a triśūla whose three prongs glow as sattva, rajas, tamas; around him gentle bhūta-gaṇas appear not as frightening but as liberated attendants, suggesting ‘unbound’ essence.
FAQs
Śiva transcends and yet ‘bears’ the three guṇas; recognizing him as master of all beings points toward inner freedom (mokṣa).
No single tīrtha is named in this verse; it focuses on the theological meaning of Śiva’s epithet.
No explicit rite is given; the verse functions as a doctrinal explanation of Śiva’s symbols and lordship.