Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

लोका भस्मीकृता येन तस्माद्येनापि रक्षिताः । तस्यार्च्चनाविधिः कार्यो गणेशस्य महात्मनः

Transliteration

lokā bhasmīkṛtā yena tasmādyenāpi rakṣitāḥ | tasyārccanāvidhiḥ kāryo gaṇeśasya mahātmanaḥ

Translation

Der, durch den die Welten zu Asche wurden—und durch den sie eben darum auch bewahrt wurden: Darum ist der rechte Ritus der Verehrung des großherzigen Gaṇeśa zu vollziehen.

Word by Word

• लोकाः: worlds/people
• लोकाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भस्मीकृताः: burnt to ashes
• भस्मीकृताः: Karma (Predicate adjective of 'lokāḥ')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्मी + कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'reduced to ashes'

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक

• तस्मात्: from him/therefore
• तस्मात्: Apādāna (Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; 'from that (one)'

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: also/even)

• रक्षिताः: protected
• रक्षिताः: Karma (Predicate adjective; implied subject 'sarve/lokāḥ')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive: of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; पुं/नपुंसक

• अर्च्चनाविधिः: the procedure of worship
• अर्च्चनाविधिः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्च्चना + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अर्च्चनायाः विधिः)

• कार्यः: should be performed
• कार्यः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (कृ धातु + यत्; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय विशेषण (gerundive: 'to be done/should be done')

• गणेशस्य: of Gaṇeśa
• गणेशस्य: Sambandha (Genitive: of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled
• महात्मनः: Viśeṣaṇa (Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'gaṇeśasya')

Speaker

Unknown (Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative voice; prescriptive conclusion in Kedāra context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Vighneśvara/Gaṇeśa (as prerequisite deity within Kedāra rites)

Type: temple

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A ritual instruction scene: the assembly is told to perform Gaṇeśa’s worship; Gaṇeśa appears as majestic Vighneśvara, with symbols of both protection and fiery power subdued under his control.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇeśa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The same divine power that can dissolve the cosmos also protects it; therefore one should approach Gaṇeśa with reverent worship.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedāra-khaṇḍa framework implies the Kedāra sacred region, but this verse chiefly glorifies Gaṇeśa and prescribes his worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Performance of Gaṇeśa’s arcana-vidhi (a formal method of worship) is explicitly enjoined.