Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

श्रूयते येन विक्रम्य महेशानोऽपि निर्जितः । स्वर्लोकसंस्थितस्यास्य शरणं याहि स्तौषि च

Transliteration

śrūyate yena vikramya maheśāno'pi nirjitaḥ | svarlokasaṃsthitasyāsya śaraṇaṃ yāhi stauṣi ca

Translation

It is heard that by his mighty stride even Maheśāna (Śiva) was overcome. Therefore go to this one who abides in Svarga—take refuge in him and praise him as well.

Word by Word

• śrūyate: is heard / is said
• śrūyate: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• yena: by whom / by which
• yena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• vikramya: having strode/advanced; having shown prowess
• vikramya: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-kram (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• maheśānaḥ: Maheśāna (Śiva)
• maheśānaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अर्थः ‘even/also’

• nirjitaḥ: conquered/defeated
• nirjitaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-ji (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (predicate adjective)

• svarloka-saṃsthitasyā: of (her) who is situated in Svarga-loka
• svarloka-saṃsthitasyā: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svarloka (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsthita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• asya: of this (one)
• asya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• śaraṇam: refuge
• śaraṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• yāhi: go
• yāhi: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• stauṣi: you praise
• stauṣi: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Deducted (contextual): A Pāṇḍava addressing Yudhiṣṭhira

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira (implied by nearby verses)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A celestial court scene: a speaker urges another to approach a radiant figure seated in Svarga, recalling a legendary ‘mighty stride’ that even Maheśāna could not surpass; hands folded in śaraṇāgati, attendants and devas witnessing.

Characters & Entities

• Maheśāna (Śiva)
• Svarga (Svaḥloka)
• Arjuna (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Seek śaraṇāgati (refuge) in the truly worthy and express reverent praise; greatness is recognized through sacred testimony (śruti/it is heard).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is named; the verse emphasizes refuge and praise rather than sacred geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal rite is stated; “stauṣi” implies devotional praise as a dhārmic act.