Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 59

Devanagari script

ओंकारात्मा महादेवि वेदार्थजननी शिवा । पुराणान्वीक्षिकी दीक्षा चामुण्डा शंकरप्रिया

Transliteration

oṃkārātmā mahādevi vedārthajananī śivā | purāṇānvīkṣikī dīkṣā cāmuṇḍā śaṃkarapriyā

Translation

O große Göttin, dein Wesen selbst ist Oṃ; du bist Śivā, die Mutter, die den Sinn der Veden gebiert. Du bist Purāṇa und heilige Erforschung; du bist die Dīkṣā (Einweihung) selbst; du bist Cāmuṇḍā, Śaṅkaras Geliebte.

Word by Word

• oṃkārātmā: whose essence is Oṃkāra
• oṃkārātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: oṃkāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (oṃkārasya ātmā)

• mahādevi: O great goddess
• mahādevi: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती देवī)

• vedārthajananī: mother of the meaning of the Vedas
• vedārthajananī: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + jananī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vedārthasya jananī)

• śivā: Śivā (auspicious goddess)
• śivā: Karta/Ādhāra of description (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• purāṇānvīkṣikī: (embodying) Purāṇa and inquiry/logic
• purāṇānvīkṣikī: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + anvīkṣikī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (purāṇā ca anvīkṣikī ca)

• dīkṣā: initiation
• dīkṣā: Karta/Ādhāra of description (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīkṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• cāmuṇḍā: Cāmuṇḍā
• cāmuṇḍā: Karta/Ādhāra of description (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāmuṇḍā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śaṃkarapriyā: beloved of Śaṃkara
• śaṃkarapriyā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक) + priyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śaṃkarasya priyā)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Prabhāsa Māhātmya narrative style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra (Somnātha)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Devī stands beside a glowing Śiva-liṅga; above her head the Oṃ symbol radiates like a sun. In one hand she holds palm-leaf manuscripts (Veda/Purāṇa), in another a rosary (dīkṣā/japa). A subtle fierce aspect of Cāmuṇḍā appears as a protective shadow-form at the periphery, while her face remains compassionate—signifying ugra-anugraha unity.

Characters & Entities

• Oṃkāra
• Mahādevī
• Veda
• Purāṇa
• Cāmuṇḍā
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Goddess is the fountainhead of mantra (Oṃ), scripture-meaning, and transformative dīkṣā—uniting devotion with wisdom.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where this hymn to Caṇḍikā/Śarvāṇī is situated.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dīkṣā (initiation) is praised as her very form, implying sanctified entry into mantra and disciplined practice.