Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 61

Devanagari script

ततो ब्रह्माणमचलो गुरुत्वे प्रार्थयत्तदा । कृत्यानां सर्वभारेषु वासुदेवं च बुद्धिमान्

Transliteration

tato brahmāṇamacalo gurutve prārthayattadā | kṛtyānāṃ sarvabhāreṣu vāsudevaṃ ca buddhimān

Translation

Then the wise Lord of the mountain entreated Brahmā to preside as the venerable elder, and Vāsudeva (Viṣṇu) to bear responsibility for all the duties that had to be performed.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Desha-Kala (Temporal/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तदस्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अचलः: the mountain (Himālaya)
• अचलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अचल’ = पर्वत (Himālaya)

• गुरुत्वे: for the role of preceptor/guardianship
• गुरुत्वे: Adhikarana (Topic/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरुत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रार्थयत्: requested
• प्रार्थयत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अर्थय् (धातु; नामधातु from अर्थ)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Desha-Kala (Temporal/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• कृत्यानाम्: of duties/rites
• कृत्यानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वभारेषु: in all responsibilities/burdens
• सर्वभारेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + भार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—सर्वेषु भारेषु (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भाव: ‘all burdens’); अधिकरण

• वासुदेवम्: Vāsudeva (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• वासुदेवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—वसुदेवस्य अपत्यं (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• बुद्धिमान्: wise
• बुद्धिमान्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्धिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (अचलः)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Himācala respectfully petitions Brahmā to preside as elder and requests Vāsudeva to oversee the practical duties; a formal court scene with Brahmā seated, Viṣṇu attentive, and attendants awaiting orders.

Characters & Entities

• Himālaya (Acala)
• Brahmā
• Vāsudeva (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is upheld through right delegation and honoring proper ritual roles, even among the highest beings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The sacred Himālaya setting remains central, presented as the cosmic stage where Brahmā and Viṣṇu assist the wedding rites.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Assignment of ritual authority (gurutva) and distribution of ceremonial duties is indicated as essential for a proper vivāha.