Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

ओंकारवक्त्रां गायत्रीं त्वामर्चंति द्विजोत्तमाः । ऊर्जितां बलदां पापि राजानः सुमहाबलाः

Transliteration

oṃkāravaktrāṃ gāyatrīṃ tvāmarcaṃti dvijottamāḥ | ūrjitāṃ baladāṃ pāpi rājānaḥ sumahābalāḥ

Translation

Die Besten der Zweimalgeborenen verehren dich als Gāyatrī, deren Antlitz der Oṃkāra ist; und Könige von großer Macht verehren dich als die Kraftvolle, die Stärke verleiht, o Sündenvernichterin.

Word by Word

• oṃkāra-vaktrām: whose face is Oṃkāra
• oṃkāra-vaktrām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: oṃkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘ओंकारः वक्त्रं यस्याः’ इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रयोगः, रूपतः तत्पुरुष

• gāyatrīm: Gāyatrī (goddess/metre)
• gāyatrīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāyatrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सर्वनाम), द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• arcanti: worship
• arcanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arc (धातु; पूजायाम्)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• dvija-uttamāḥ: the best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• dvija-uttamāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; ‘द्विजेषु उत्तमाः’ इति सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष

• ūrjitām: mighty
• ūrjitām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrjitā (प्रातिपदिक; √ūrj/ūrjay? as adjective ‘strong’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• baladām: giver of strength
• baladām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (धातु; दाने) → dā (प्रातिपदिक ‘giver’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘बलं ददाति’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष

• pāpi: O sin-destroying/ (lit.) O sinful one
• pāpi: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; ‘पापिनि’ इत्यर्थे (vocative)

• rājānaḥ: kings
• rājānaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• su-mahā-balāḥ: very mighty
• su-mahā-balāḥ: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘सुमहत् बलं येषाम्’ इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे, रूपतः तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa framing)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gāyatrī (mantra-tīrtha concept)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two worship-streams: dvijottamas adore Devī as Oṃ-faced Gāyatrī; mighty kings worship her as the powerful, strength-giving, sin-destroying Lady.

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Gāyatrī
• Oṃkāra
• Dvijottama
• Rājānaḥ

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devī is approached according to one’s dharma: as Gāyatrī by the twice-born through mantra, and as strength-bestower by rulers through righteous power.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse emphasizes mantra identity (Gāyatrī/Oṃkāra) and devotional approach.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Arcana (worship) of Devī as Gāyatrī and reverence to Oṃkāra-centered mantra practice are implied.