Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 50

Devanagari script

पद्मासनस्थं तं गौरं बीजपूरकरं स्थितम् । दशहस्तं सुप्रसन्नवदनं ध्यानमास्थितम्

Transliteration

padmāsanasthaṃ taṃ gauraṃ bījapūrakaraṃ sthitam | daśahastaṃ suprasannavadanaṃ dhyānamāsthitam

Translation

তাঁকে পদ্মাসনে উপবিষ্ট, গৌরবর্ণ, হাতে বীজপূর (লেবু) ধারণকারী—দশহস্ত, অতিশয় প্রসন্ন মুখমণ্ডল, গভীর ধ্যানে প্রতিষ্ঠিত—এইভাবে ধ্যান কর।

Word by Word

• पद्मासनस्थम्: seated in lotus posture
• पद्मासनस्थम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्मासन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (पद्मासने स्थः)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• गौरम्: fair/white-hued
• गौरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• बीजपूरकरम्: with a hand holding a citron (bījapūra)
• बीजपूरकरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बीजपूर (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बीजपूरस्य करः/हस्तः)

• स्थितम्: standing/placed
• स्थितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दशहस्तम्: ten-handed
• दशहस्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (दश हस्ताः यस्य)

• सुप्रसन्नवदनम्: with a very serene face
• सुप्रसन्नवदनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुप्रसन्नं वदनं यस्य)

• ध्यानम्: meditation (object/act)
• ध्यानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आस्थितम्: undertaken/assumed
• आस्थितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ध्यानम् इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced: Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva, fair-radiant, seated in lotus posture, ten-armed, face supremely serene; one hand holds a bījapūra (citron), other hands implied with Śaiva emblems; the deity himself absorbed in meditation, mirroring the devotee’s dhyāna.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (implied: the described dhyeya form)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The text gives a concrete visualization (dhyāna-rūpa) to steady the mind, making devotion and concentration firm.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced; it is a dhyāna description for inner practice.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A prescribed form for dhyāna (visual meditation) on Śiva is given—posture, complexion, hands, and facial serenity.