Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

देवदेवो महादेवो विष्णुरूपी महेश्वरः । सर्वे यूयं प्रार्थयंतु विष्णुं सर्वगुहाशयम्

Transliteration

devadevo mahādevo viṣṇurūpī maheśvaraḥ | sarve yūyaṃ prārthayaṃtu viṣṇuṃ sarvaguhāśayam

Translation

Mahādeva, Gott der Götter, Maheśvara, der in der Gestalt Viṣṇus erscheint — möget ihr alle zu Viṣṇu beten, der in jeder verborgenen Höhle, in jedem Herzen wohnt.

Word by Word

• deva-devaḥ: God of gods
• deva-devaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (devānāṃ devaḥ)

• mahā-devaḥ: the great god
• mahā-devaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः

• viṣṇu-rūpī: having the form of Vishnu
• viṣṇu-rūpī: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (viṣṇoḥ rūpaṃ yasya)

• mahā-īśvaraḥ: the great Lord
• mahā-īśvaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः

• sarve: all (of you)
• sarve: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• yūyam: you (all)
• yūyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• prārthayantu: let (them/you) pray
• prārthayantu: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + arth (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• viṣṇum: Vishnu
• viṣṇum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sarva-guhā-śayam: dwelling in all caves/secret places
• sarva-guhā-śayam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + guhā (प्रातिपदिक) + śaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (sarvāsu guhāsu śayaḥ yasya)

Speaker

Nandin (to the Devas/Suras)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra (context) / Vaikuṇṭha (goal-realm)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Devas

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Nandin proclaims that Mahādeva is Maheśvara in Viṣṇu-form and urges all devas to pray to Viṣṇu, the indweller of every heart-cave; the scene blends Shaiva and Vaishnava iconography.

Characters & Entities

• Mahādeva (Śiva)
• Viṣṇu
• Maheśvara
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Purāṇic vision affirms harmony of Śiva and Viṣṇu (Hari-Hara): the one Supreme is approached through different forms, and the indwelling Lord responds to prayer.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra’s Śaiva setting frames an inclusive theology, though the verse itself emphasizes deity-unity rather than a location detail.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A prescription of prayer (prārthanā) to Viṣṇu is given, as a means to restore proper order in the unfolding situation.