Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

सत्त्वरूपैश्चतुर्दिक्षु मध्येऽनंतं सतारकम् । सत्त्वादींस्त्रिगुणांस्तं तु रूपान्पीठेषु विन्यसेत्

Transliteration

sattvarūpaiścaturdikṣu madhye'naṃtaṃ satārakam | sattvādīṃstriguṇāṃstaṃ tu rūpānpīṭheṣu vinyaset

Translation

In the four directions one should place the forms of Sattva; and in the center, Ananta together with the tāraka. Then, upon the pīṭhas, one should install the forms constituted by the three guṇas, beginning with Sattva.

Word by Word

• सत्त्व-रूपैः: with forms of sattva
• सत्त्व-रूपैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; सत्त्वस्य रूपैः = ‘सत्त्व-स्वरूपैः’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• चतुर्-दिक्षु: in the four directions
• चतुर्-दिक्षु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), बहुवचन; ‘चारसु दिक्षु’

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• अनन्तम्: the infinite (one)
• अनन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (qualifying)

• स-तारकम्: together with the tāraka (syllable/star)
• स-तारकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थ ‘सहित’) + तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; ‘तारकेण सहितम्/तारकयुक्तम्’

• सत्त्व-आदीन्: sattva and the others (etc.)
• सत्त्व-आदीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), बहुवचन; ‘सत्त्वादीन् (रजस्तमः-आदीन्)’

• त्रि-गुणान्: the three guṇas
• त्रि-गुणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), बहुवचन; ‘त्रयः गुणाः’

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• रूपान्: forms
• रूपान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), बहुवचन

• पीठेषु: in/on the seats (pīṭhas)
• पीठेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), बहुवचन

• विन्यसेत्: should place/arrange
• विन्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु) / विन्यस् (धातु-प्रयोगः)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; ‘स्थापयेत्/न्यसेत्’

Speaker

Narratorial/Instructional voice (maṇḍala installation guidance)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A ritual diagram: four directional pīṭhas glowing with sattva-forms; at the center a coiled, infinite Ananta supporting a radiant tāraka-syllable; surrounding seats marked by tri-guṇa emblems.

Characters & Entities

• Sattva
• Rajas
• Tamas
• Ananta
• Tāraka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual practice maps cosmic principles—guṇas and the saving mantra—into sacred space to harmonize inner nature and worship.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is specified; it is a generalized ritual cosmology applicable in temple or home worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Install sattva-forms in the directions, Ananta with tāraka in the center, and place the triguṇa-forms on the pīṭhas.