Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

बलमोजः कृपा चव बद्धा करयुगं तथा । आदेशकारीण्यग्रेऽस्य स्वयं तस्थुर्महात्मनः

Transliteration

balamojaḥ kṛpā cava baddhā karayugaṃ tathā | ādeśakārīṇyagre'sya svayaṃ tasthurmahātmanaḥ

Translation

Kraft, Energie und Mitgefühl—samt dem Paar Hände, gleichsam gebunden und zum Dienst bereit—standen von selbst vor jenem Großherzigen, begierig, seinen Befehl auszuführen.

Word by Word

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ओजः: vigour
• ओजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृपा: compassion
• कृपा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ/समुच्चय (also/even)

• बद्धाः: bound, fastened
• बद्धाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agreeing with बलम्/ओजः/कृपा as personified powers

• करयुगम्: pair of hands
• करयुगम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपसंहारार्थ

• आदेशकारीणि: obedient, command-fulfilling
• आदेशकारीणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदेश (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural; ‘आदेशं करोति’ = command-executing

• अग्रे: in front
• अग्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• स्वयम्: themselves
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थक

• तस्थुः: stood
• तस्थुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्ण), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Parasmaipada

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Before Skanda stand personified Bala (strength), Ojas (vigor), and Kṛpā (compassion) like attendants; his hands appear ‘bound’ in readiness—suggesting disciplined service rather than restraint by others.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True power in dharma is not mere force; it is strength and vigor guided by compassion and readiness to serve the divine will.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it focuses on the divine entourage and virtues surrounding the Lord in the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual (snāna, dāna, japa, vrata) is prescribed in this verse.