Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 47

Devanagari script

एवं विस्मयपूर्णास्ते इंद्राद्या देवतागणाः । तिष्ठंति तावत्सर्वेशो विष्णुरध्यात्मदीपकः

Transliteration

evaṃ vismayapūrṇāste iṃdrādyā devatāgaṇāḥ | tiṣṭhaṃti tāvatsarveśo viṣṇuradhyātmadīpakaḥ

Translation

So standen Indra und die Scharen der Götter, vom Staunen erfüllt, dort. Und in jener Zeit war Viṣṇu—der Herr von allem, eine Leuchte innerer geistiger Einsicht—gegenwärtig.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• विस्मयपूर्णाः: filled with wonder
• विस्मयपूर्णाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('full of astonishment'); विशेषण (ते/देवतागणाः)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• इन्द्राद्याः: beginning with Indra
• इन्द्राद्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-प्राय ('beginning with Indra'); विशेषण (देवतागणाः)

• देवतागणाः: groups of deities
• देवतागणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('group of deities')

• तिष्ठन्ति: stand, remain
• तिष्ठन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तावत्: meanwhile, for that long
• तावत्: Kaala-adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/कालवाचक-अव्यय (so long/meanwhile)

• सर्वेशः: the Lord of all
• सर्वेशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('lord of all')

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अप्पोजिशन (सर्वेशः)

• अध्यात्मदीपकः: the illuminator of the inner self
• अध्यात्मदीपकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्यात्म (प्रातिपदिक) + दीपक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('lamp/light of the inner self/spirituality'); विशेषण (विष्णुः)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narration style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedāranātha

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra and the devas stand motionless in wonder. Viṣṇu remains present—calm, luminous, embodying inner clarity—contrasting the devas’ astonishment with steady spiritual light.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Devatāgaṇa
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True divinity evokes reverent wonder, and inner discernment (adhyātma) is needed to recognize the Supreme beyond appearances.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The setting belongs to Kedārakhaṇḍa, associated with the Kedāra sacred landscape of Śiva in the Himalayas, though this verse itself focuses on the cosmic event.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is prescribed in this verse; it emphasizes devotional awe and spiritual insight.