Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

सर्वपापप्रशमनं महाविषप्रणाशनम् । पूजितं सिद्धगन्धर्वैर्वाञ्छितार्थप्रदायकम्

Transliteration

sarvapāpapraśamanaṃ mahāviṣapraṇāśanam | pūjitaṃ siddhagandharvairvāñchitārthapradāyakam

Translation

（阿什塔库勒伊湿伐罗）能平息一切罪业，摧灭剧毒；为悉地者与乾闼婆所礼敬，并赐予所愿之果。

Word by Word

• सर्वपापप्रशमनम्: the pacifier of all sins
• सर्वपापप्रशमनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रशमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (determinative): 'pacifying all sins'

• महाविषप्रणाशनम्: destroyer of deadly poison
• महाविषप्रणाशनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + विष (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'destroyer of great poison'

• पूजितम्: worshipped
• पूजितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूजित (क्त-प्रत्यय, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'worshipped'

• सिद्धगन्धर्वैः: by Siddhas and Gandharvas
• सिद्धगन्धर्वैः: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन (plural); 'by Siddhas and Gandharvas'

• वाञ्छितार्थप्रदायकम्: giver of desired boons
• वाञ्छितार्थप्रदायकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाञ्छित (वाञ्छ् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदायक (प्र+दा धातु, ण्वुल्/क-प्रत्यय, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'giver of desired objects/aims'

Speaker

Īśvara (Śiva)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Aṣṭakuleśvara

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Mahādevī (Pārvatī)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Aṣṭakuleśvara liṅga in a sanctum, surrounded by Siddhas and Gandharvas offering flowers and incense; a symbolic serpent-poison motif dissolves into light near the liṅga, indicating viṣa-nāśa; pilgrims receive blessings and protective aura.

Characters & Entities

• Aṣṭakuleśvara
• Siddhas
• Gandharvas
• viṣa (poison)
• Prabhāsa Kṣetra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Lord at the tīrtha is portrayed as both purifier (pāpa-śamana) and protector (viṣa-nāśa), fulfilling righteous aspirations.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Aṣṭakuleśvara liṅga in Prabhāsa Kṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implied worship (pūjā) of Aṣṭakuleśvara, praised as already revered by Siddhas and Gandharvas.