Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

मध्यमं तु मुखं गौरं चतुर्दन्तं त्रिलोचनम् । शुंडादंडमनोज्ञं च पुष्करे मोदकान्वितम्

Transliteration

madhyamaṃ tu mukhaṃ gauraṃ caturdantaṃ trilocanam | śuṃḍādaṃḍamanojñaṃ ca puṣkare modakānvitam

Translation

Das mittlere Antlitz ist hell, mit vier Hauern und drei Augen; der Rüssel ist anmutig wie ein Stab, und in der Lotoshand hält er süße Modakas.

Word by Word

• मध्यमम्: middle
• मध्यमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: contrast/emphasis)

• मुखम्: face
• मुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• गौरम्: fair/white
• गौरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; विशेषण

• चतुर्दन्तम्: four-tusked
• चतुर्दन्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (संख्यापूर्वक: 'four-tusked')

• त्रिलोचनम्: three-eyed
• त्रिलोचनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास ('three-eyed')

• शुण्डा-दण्ड-मनोज्ञम्: pleasing with a trunk-staff (trunk-like rod)
• शुण्डा-दण्ड-मनोज्ञम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुण्डा (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + मनोज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (शुण्डायाः दण्डः—तद्वत् मनोज्ञम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुष्करे: in the lotus
• पुष्करे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• मोदक-अन्वितम्: accompanied by sweets (modakas)
• मोदक-अन्वितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोदक (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √इ/अन्वि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास ('endowed with modakas')

Speaker

Maheśvara (Śiva)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra / Kedārakṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close-up iconographic focus on Gaṇeśa’s central face: fair complexion, three eyes, four tusks; a graceful trunk; lotus-hand presenting modakas—sweet offerings signifying siddhi and auspicious fulfillment.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇeśa
• Modaka
• Puṣkara (lotus)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The deity’s form and attributes are contemplated as symbols of power, auspiciousness, and the sweetness of spiritual fruition.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tirtha is praised in this verse; it is a dhyāna-description within Kedārakhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Meditative visualization of Gaṇeśa’s central face and attributes; modaka is implied as a fitting offering.