Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 125

Devanagari script

कृता महानसेऽध्यक्षा नाम्ना मायावतीति च

Transliteration

kṛtā mahānase'dhyakṣā nāmnā māyāvatīti ca

Translation

She was appointed as the superintendent of the great kitchen and became known by the name Māyāvatī.

Word by Word

• कृता: made, appointed
• कृता: Karma (Object/कर्म) / Predicate complement (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Past passive participle (kta), Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• महानसे: in the kitchen
• महानसे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Neuter, Locative, Singular

• अध्यक्षा: superintendent, overseer
• अध्यक्षा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• मायावती: Māyāvatī (proper name)
• मायावती: Apposition (सम्बोधन/विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायावती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• इति: thus
• इति: Discourse marker (वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

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

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta’s narration implied by section style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra (contextual frame)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sacred great kitchen (mahānasa) in a Himalayan āśrama/temple precinct; a woman appointed as superintendent, overseeing vessels, fire, and distribution of food to pilgrims and sages.

Characters & Entities

• Māyāvatī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even within adverse circumstances, destiny and dharma shape identities and roles that serve a larger divine narrative.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse occurs within Kedārakhaṇḍa’s sacred frame, but it does not directly praise a specific tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.