Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 169

Devanagari script

ततो विमृश्यैव विधी रक्षो पायमचीकरत् । तिलैर्युक्तं पितॄणां च देवानामक्षतैः सह

Transliteration

tato vimṛśyaiva vidhī rakṣo pāyamacīkarat | tilairyuktaṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca devānāmakṣataiḥ saha

Translation

Then, after due reflection, Vidhī (Brahmā) devised a protective means: for the Pitṛs, the rite joined with sesame; and for the gods, together with akṣata—unbroken grains.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• विमृश्य: having reflected
• विमृश्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vimṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/gerund), उपसर्ग: वि-; अर्थ: 'having reflected/considered'

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण)

• विधी: Vidhī (Brahmā)
• विधी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (विधिः = ब्रह्मा)

• रक्षः: a protective rite/charm
• रक्षः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अर्थ: 'protection/charm'

• पायम्: a means of protection
• पायम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थ: 'protective means/amulet' (पाय = रक्षणोपाय)

• अचीकरत्: made, prepared
• अचीकरत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative/णिच्-आभास (अ-ची-करत्) = 'caused to be made / made'

• तिलैः: with sesame seeds
• तिलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• युक्तम्: mixed, combined
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yukta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √yuj)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; रक्षः/पायम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• पितॄणाम्: of the Pitṛs
• पितॄणाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

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

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• अक्षतैः: with unbroken rice
• अक्षतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; अर्थ: 'unbroken rice grains'

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (Accompaniment/सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (सहकार/associative particle)

Speaker

Narration within Mahākāla’s discourse (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā, after contemplation, indicates two ritual sets: sesame for Pitṛs and unbroken grains for Devas, as a protective protocol against daitya interference.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Vidhī)
• Pitaraḥ
• Devāḥ
• Tila
• Akṣata

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma provides precise, purposeful ritual symbols to protect and correctly route offerings to devas and pitṛs.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse explains ritual etiology for items used in dāna/offerings.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Use tila in rites intended for the Pitṛs and akṣata in rites intended for the devas as a protective measure (rakṣā).