Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

आकाशतिलको धाता संविभागी मनोहरः । प्रज्ञः प्रजापतिर्धन्यो विष्णुः श्रीशो भिषग्वरः

Transliteration

ākāśatilako dhātā saṃvibhāgī manoharaḥ | prajñaḥ prajāpatirdhanyo viṣṇuḥ śrīśo bhiṣagvaraḥ

Translation

He is the Ornament of the sky; Dhātṛ, the Sustainer; the Dispenser who apportions all; the Enchanter of the mind; the Wise; Prajāpati, Lord of creatures; the Blessed and Auspicious; Viṣṇu, the All-pervading Protector; Śrīśa, Lord of prosperity; and the Supreme Physician.

Word by Word

• ākāśatilakaḥ: ornament of the sky
• ākāśatilakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक) + tilaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ākāśasya tilakaḥ)

• dhātā: creator; sustainer
• dhātā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātṛ (प्रातिपदिक; √dhā (धातु) + tṛc)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक

• saṃvibhāgī: distributor; apportioner
• saṃvibhāgī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃ- (उपसर्ग) + vibhāgin (प्रातिपदिक; vi-√bhaj (धातु) + in)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'विभाग' कर्ता/कर्ता-विशेषण

• manoharaḥ: charming; mind-stealing
• manoharaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक) + hara (प्रातिपदिक; √hṛ (धातु) + a)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (manaḥ harati iti)

• prajñaḥ: wise
• prajñaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• prajāpatiḥ: lord of creatures
• prajāpatiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (prajāyāḥ patiḥ)

• dhanyaḥ: blessed; fortunate
• dhanyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śrīśaḥ: lord of Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• śrīśaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śriyāḥ īśaḥ)

• bhiṣagvaraḥ: best of physicians
• bhiṣagvaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhiṣaj (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (bhiṣajāṃ varaḥ)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A single radiant deity standing against the sky as its ‘tilaka’, with rays forming a crown; around him appear subtle emblems: conch/discus (Viṣṇu), lotus/prosperity (Śrī), healing herbs or a physician’s bowl (Bhiṣagvara), and a creator’s aura (Prajāpati).

Characters & Entities

• Sūrya
• Dhātṛ
• Prajāpati
• Viṣṇu
• Śrī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Sun is honored as sustainer and distributor of life’s order—granting wisdom, prosperity, and healing as expressions of cosmic dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific place is cited; the focus is theological—identifying the Sun with sustaining and protective divine functions.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; the verse supports recitation for ārogya (health), śrī (prosperity), and prajñā (clarity).