Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 180

Devanagari script

ययानिरुद्धः कथित उषायाः पतिरुत्तमः । योगिनीनां वरिष्ठा या महाकालस्य वल्लभा

Transliteration

yayāniruddhaḥ kathita uṣāyāḥ patiruttamaḥ | yoginīnāṃ variṣṭhā yā mahākālasya vallabhā

Translation

Sie war es, die Aniruddha — den erhabenen Gemahl Uṣās — zu erkennen gab; sie ist die Erste unter den Yoginīs; sie ist die Geliebte Mahākālas.

Word by Word

• yayā: by whom/with whom
• yayā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• aniruddhaḥ: Aniruddha
• aniruddhaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aniruddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेष्य (नाम)

• kathitaḥ: is called/was said
• kathitaḥ: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kath (कथ् धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्ययः), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘कथितः’ = ‘is said/called’

• uṣāyāḥ: of Uṣā
• uṣāyāḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (सम्बन्ध), एकवचनम्

• patiḥ: husband/lord
• patiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• uttamaḥ: excellent, best
• uttamaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• yoginīnām: of the yoginīs
• yoginīnām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoginī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• variṣṭhā: the most excellent
• variṣṭhā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: variṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक; श्रेष्ठतम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• yā: who (she)
• yā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• mahākālasya: of Mahākāla
• mahākālasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः—महान् चासौ कालः (कर्मधारय-तत्पुरुष)

• vallabhā: beloved (consort)
• vallabhā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vallabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Barkareśvara

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Arjuna

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant Yoginī, serene yet formidable, gestures as a revealer—indicating Aniruddha’s presence—while Mahākāla’s aura looms protectively; the scene blends Vaishnava romance-legend with Shaiva tantric sanctity.

Characters & Entities

• Citralekhā
• Aniruddha
• Uṣā
• Yoginīs
• Mahākāla

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It elevates a devotee-attendant through sacred association: devotion, yogic excellence, and proximity to Mahākāla confer renown.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Mahākāla’s sacred sphere is implied, continuing the Mahākāla/Barkareśvara māhātmya framework.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a descriptive identification of Citralekhā’s fame and status.