Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 49

Devanagari script

त्वं विश्वसाक्षी जगतोऽस्यकर्त्ता विरूढधामा हृदि सन्निविष्टः । अतो विचिन्वंति विधौ विपश्चितो योगैरनेकैः कृतचित्तरोधैः

Transliteration

tvaṃ viśvasākṣī jagato'syakarttā virūḍhadhāmā hṛdi sanniviṣṭaḥ | ato vicinvaṃti vidhau vipaścito yogairanekaiḥ kṛtacittarodhaiḥ

Translation

You are the Witness of the universe, the Maker of this world—your splendor firmly established, dwelling within the heart. Therefore the wise seek you through disciplined means, by many yogas, having restrained the mind.

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुषार्थे; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विश्वसाक्षी: witness of the universe
• विश्वसाक्षी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'of the world' + 'witness')

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्त्ता: creator/doer
• कर्त्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, agent noun)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ-शब्द (agent)

• विरूढधामा: of expanded splendour
• विरूढधामा: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरूढ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √रुह्) + धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (विशेषण-विशेष्यभाव: 'grown/expanded' + 'splendour/abode')

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• सन्निविष्टः: seated/entered
• सन्निविष्टः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + नि + √विश् (धातु) → सन्निविष्ट (कृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (Logical connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक-निपात (therefore/for this reason)

• विचिन्वन्ति: they investigate/seek
• विचिन्वन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √चि (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विधौ: in the method/ordinance (i.e., in prescribed discipline)
• विधौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विपश्चितः: the wise
• विपश्चितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपश्चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• योगैः: by yogic disciplines
• योगैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• अनेकैः: many
• अनेकैः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (योगैः इति)

• कृतचित्तरोधैः: with minds restrained
• कृतचित्तरोधैः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ) + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (कृतः चित्तरोधः येषां/with mind-restraint made)

Speaker

Rājā (the King)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A yogin seated in padmāsana, eyes half-closed, with a subtle luminous Mahādeva-form enthroned within the heart-lotus; cosmos reflected as a witness-light behind.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (addressed)
• Yoga (as discipline)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Lord is both cosmic witness and inner indweller; realization requires disciplined yoga and restraint of mind.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse stresses inner pilgrimage—seeking Śiva in the heart.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A yogic prescription is implied: citta-rodha (mind-restraint) through multiple yogic disciplines.