Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

बबंध प्रणयोदारविस्फारितविलोचनः । कपर्द्दं शोभनं विष्णुः स्वय चक्रेऽस्य हर्षतः

Transliteration

babaṃdha praṇayodāravisphāritavilocanaḥ | kaparddaṃ śobhanaṃ viṣṇuḥ svaya cakre'sya harṣataḥ

Translation

Mit Augen, weit geöffnet vor großmütiger Zuneigung, formte und band Viṣṇu voller Freude eigenhändig für Ihn einen herrlichen kaparda, den schönen Haarknoten.

Word by Word

• बबन्ध: bound, fastened
• बबन्ध: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• प्रणयोदारविस्फारितविलोचनः: whose eyes were wide-opened with affectionate warmth
• प्रणयोदारविस्फारितविलोचनः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of viṣṇuḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणय + उदार + विस्फारित + विलोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः—‘यस्य विलोचने प्रणयेन उदारेण विस्फारिते’ (whose eyes are widely opened with affectionate generosity)

• कपर्दम्: a hair-knot, braid/topknot
• कपर्दम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपर्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• शोभनम्: beautiful
• शोभनम्: Karma (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying kapardam)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; आत्मकर्तृवाचक (by oneself)

• चक्रे: made, fashioned
• चक्रे: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• अस्य: of him (for him)
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्

• हर्षतः: from joy, out of delight
• हर्षतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचनम्; हेतौ (cause: ‘out of joy’)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Viṣṇu, eyes widened with affectionate joy, uses his own hands to fashion and tie a splendid kaparda (topknot) for Śiva; attendants watch in awe at the intimacy of divine friendship.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Śiva (implied: asya; wedding preparation)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True divinity expresses itself as loving service; even Viṣṇu participates in honoring Śiva, teaching harmony beyond sectarian division.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named in this verse; it glorifies the sacred act of divine participation in Śiva’s wedding.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; it depicts auspicious adornment as part of vivāha-saṃskāra symbolism.