Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 138

Devanagari script

प्रत्युद्गम्य नृपं पूजामर्घं च प्रत्यपादयत् । ततः कुशलप्रश्रादि कृत्वा शांतमुखं नृपः

Transliteration

pratyudgamya nṛpaṃ pūjāmarghaṃ ca pratyapādayat | tataḥ kuśalapraśrādi kṛtvā śāṃtamukhaṃ nṛpaḥ

Translation

Going forth to greet the king, he offered him worship and the arghya-offering. Then, after exchanging inquiries of well-being and other courtesies, the king’s face became calm and composed.

Word by Word

• प्रति-उद्गम्य: having gone out to meet
• प्रति-उद्गम्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उद्-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातु: गम् (to go) उपसर्ग: उद्-, प्रति-

• नृपम्: the king
• नृपम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पूजाम्: worship/ritual honor
• पूजाम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अर्घम्: arghya (honorary offering)
• अर्घम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• प्रति-अपादयत्: offered/presented
• प्रति-अपादयत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-अपद्/पद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: अपद्/पद् (to present/hand over) उपसर्ग: प्रति-

• ततः: then
• ततः: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरबोधक (thereafter)

• कुशल-प्रश्न-आदि: inquiries about welfare, etc.
• कुशल-प्रश्न-आदि: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रश्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययार्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः (कुशलस्य प्रश्नः) तत्पुरुषः, 'आदि' समाहारार्थ-समासाङ्ग (etc.)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; धातु: कृ (to do)

• शान्त-मुखम्: calm-faced (one)
• शान्त-मुखम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (शान्तं मुखं यस्य/शान्तं मुखम्)

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Nārada (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Mahākāla (Mahākāleśvara)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dignified greeting: the host (Mahākāla’s representative/saintly figure) steps forward to welcome the king, offering arghya; the king’s face relaxes into calm after courteous exchange.

Characters & Entities

• Mahākāla
• King Karaṁdhama (implied)
• Pūjā
• Arghya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma includes reverent reception and courteous exchange; sacred spaces cultivate inner peace through right conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Mahākāla’s sacred setting, where the encounter is framed through ritual honor and auspicious hospitality.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pūjā and arghya are offered as formal acts of honour; kuśala-praśna (inquiring well-being) as dharmic etiquette.