Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 186

Devanagari script

मूर्ध्नि बद्धांजलिं धीमानैतरेयोऽथ तुष्टुवे

Transliteration

mūrdhni baddhāṃjaliṃ dhīmānaitareyo'tha tuṣṭuve

Translation

Da begann der weise Aitareya, die gefalteten Hände auf sein Haupt legend, den Herrn in Lobgesängen zu preisen.

Word by Word

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• बद्ध: bound, joined
• बद्ध: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) → बद्ध (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अञ्जलिम्: folded hands (añjali)
• अञ्जलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• धीमान्: the wise one
• धीमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ऐतरेयः: Aitareya (name)
• ऐतरेयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐतरेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (particle: then/now)

• तुष्टुवे: praised
• तुष्टुवे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta) describing Aitareya (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Aitareya, a serene ṛṣi, stands or kneels with joined palms raised to the crown of his head, eyes lowered in devotion, beginning a hymn before an unseen or subtly indicated divine presence.

Characters & Entities

• Aitareya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Humility and reverence (añjali) are foundational to stuti; devotion begins with surrender of ego before the Divine.

Which specific holy site (Tīrtha) is glorified here?

No site is specified; the verse sets the posture and mood for a hymn within the narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The devotional gesture of añjali (joined palms), especially held at the head as a sign of supreme reverence.