Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

शंभोर्वचनमादाय शिरसा लोकपावनः । जगाम त्वरितो भूत्वा वैकुण्ठं विष्णुवल्लभः

Transliteration

śaṃbhorvacanamādāya śirasā lokapāvanaḥ | jagāma tvarito bhūtvā vaikuṇṭhaṃ viṣṇuvallabhaḥ

Translation

Śambhus Wort nahm er mit geneigtem Haupt entgegen; der Läuterer der Welten eilte nach Vaikuṇṭha—zum Geliebten Viṣṇus.

Word by Word

• शंभोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वचनम्: speech; command; words
• वचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• शिरसा: with (his) head; by bowing the head
• शिरसा: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• लोकपावनः: purifier of the worlds
• लोकपावनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकानां पावनः)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वरितः: hastened; swift
• त्वरितः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• वैकुण्ठम्: to Vaikuṇṭha
• वैकुण्ठम्: Gati/Karma (Destination as object/गति-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकुण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विष्णुवल्लभः: beloved of Viṣṇu
• विष्णुवल्लभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + वल्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विष्णोः वल्लभः)

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa tradition, implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Nārada, head bowed, receives Śiva’s command and departs swiftly through the sky toward the luminous gates of Vaikuṇṭha.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Śambhu)
• Nārada
• Vaikuṇṭha
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Humility and prompt service to divine instruction are marks of true devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative frame remains Kedārakhaṇḍa (Kedāra tīrtha), though the verse momentarily shifts to Vaikuṇṭha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it highlights reverent acceptance of a divine command.