Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

जपेन सुविशुद्धेन च्छन्दसां वायुभोजनः । ततः खाद्द्वितीयां मूर्तिं कृत्वा योगबलाद्विभुः

Transliteration

japena suviśuddhena cchandasāṃ vāyubhojanaḥ | tataḥ khāddvitīyāṃ mūrtiṃ kṛtvā yogabalādvibhuḥ

Translation

Durch ein vollkommen gereinigtes Japa der vedischen Hymnen, nur vom Wind als Nahrung lebend, formte jener Mächtige dann — kraft des Yoga — eine zweite Gestalt und verweilte im Himmel.

Word by Word

• जपेन: by/with recitation (japa)
• जपेन: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुविशुद्धेन: very pure
• सुविशुद्धेन: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुविशुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• छन्दसाम्: of the Vedic metres / of the Vedas
• छन्दसाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• वायुभोजनः: one who feeds on air (air-eater)
• वायुभोजनः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative) ‘वायोः भोजनम् यस्य’ इति विशेषण

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: अधिकरण/काल-निर्देश (Adverbial: then/thereafter)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• खाद्: (he) should eat / ate (textual imperative form)
• खाद्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: खाद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम/उत्तम?—अत्र पाठानुसारं ‘खाद्’ इति धातोः लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष-एकवचन (3rd sg imperative) रूपं ‘खादतु’ इत्यस्य लोपः/छन्दसि; परस्मैपद

• द्वितीयाम्: second
• द्वितीयाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मूर्तिम्: form, embodiment
• मूर्तिम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having done/made’

• योगबलात्: from/through the power of yoga
• योगबलात्: हेतु/अपादान (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘योगस्य बलम्’

• विभुः: the all-pervading one, the Lord
• विभुः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An ascetic-sage performing intensely purified Vedic japa, emaciated yet luminous, sustained only by air; through yogic power he projects a second form and hovers/abides in the sky.

Characters & Entities

• Sūrya (contextual)
• Chandas (Vedic hymns/meters)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purified mantra-recitation combined with austerity and yogic discipline is shown to generate extraordinary spiritual capability and readiness for divine encounter.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific location is named; the verse describes ascetic practice rather than sacred geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Suviśuddha-japa of Vedic hymns (chandas), along with austere discipline (vāyubhojana) and yoga-bala.