Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

आसाद्य ते भवं देवं तुष्टुबुर्बहुधा स्तवैः । एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवी प्रोद्वर्तयत गात्रकम्

Transliteration

āsādya te bhavaṃ devaṃ tuṣṭuburbahudhā stavaiḥ | etasminnaṃtare devī prodvartayata gātrakam

Translation

Reaching Bhava, the Lord, they praised him in many hymns. In that very interval, the Goddess began to rub and anoint her body (with unguent).

Word by Word

• आसाद्य: having approached
• आसाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + सद् (धातु) → आसाद्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया—'having approached'

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• भवम्: Bhava (Śiva)
• भवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; शिवनाम

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'भवम्' इत्यस्य विशेषण

• तुष्टुबुः: they praised
• तुष्टुबुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (in many ways)

• स्तवैः: with hymns
• स्तवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• अन्तरे: in the meantime
• अन्तरे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रोद्वर्तयत: she rubbed/anointed
• प्रोद्वर्तयत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + उद् + वृत्/वर्त् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गात्रकम्: the body (limbs)
• गात्रकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Nārada (narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Mandaragiri (Śiva-sannidhi)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Devas / primary interlocutor of the narrative frame

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The devas arrive before Śiva and sing layered hymns with folded hands; beside them, Devī begins udvartana—rubbing fragrant paste on her limbs—creating a quiet, intimate counterpoint to the public stotra.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Śiva (Bhava)
• Devī (Pārvatī)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Stuti (devotional praise) is presented as the devas’ refuge in crisis, while Devī’s auspicious actions unfold alongside divine response.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Devotional stuti to Śiva is shown; Devī’s udvartana (anointing/rubbing with paste) is described as an auspicious act.