Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 174

Devanagari script

पाणिग्रहार्थमधुना देवदेवः पिनाकधृक् । यथा नेष्यति तत्रैव करिष्यामोऽधुना वयम्

Transliteration

pāṇigrahārthamadhunā devadevaḥ pinākadhṛk | yathā neṣyati tatraiva kariṣyāmo'dhunā vayam

Translation

Now, for the rite of hand-taking in marriage, as the God of gods—Śiva, bearer of the Pināka—shall lead the matter, so indeed shall we act accordingly.

Word by Word

• पाणिग्रहार्थम्: for the purpose of marriage (hand-taking)
• पाणिग्रहार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (पाणिग्रहस्य अर्थम् = for the purpose of marriage)

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Avyaya (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• देवदेवः: Lord of the gods
• देवदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां देवः)

• पिनाकधृक्: the bearer of the Pināka (Śiva)
• पिनाकधृक्: Karta (Subject-Apposition/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाक (प्रातिपदिक) + धृ (धातु) → धृक् (कृदन्त, क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (पिनाकं धरति) इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष; क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक

• यथा: as, in the way that
• यथा: Avyaya (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमानवाचक (manner/comparative)

• नेष्यति: he will lead
• नेष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Avyaya (Place/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• एव: just, indeed
• एव: Avyaya (Restriction/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (restrictive particle)

• करिष्यामः: we will do
• करिष्यामः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Avyaya (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Viṣṇu (deduced from surrounding context of Viṣṇu guiding the devas)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A council-like moment: the gods acknowledge that the Deva of devas, Śiva bearing Pināka, will conduct the pāṇigrahaṇa; the assembly stands ready to follow his lead, with auspicious wedding symbols subtly present.

Characters & Entities

• Devadeva
• Pinākadhṛk (Śiva)
• Pāṇigraha (marriage rite)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Align one’s actions with divine will; sacred undertakings succeed when guided by the Lord’s intention.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedāra region is the broader sacred frame, but this verse highlights the divine marriage theme rather than a particular shrine.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pāṇigraha (the formal hand-taking) is referenced as the defining marriage act, though no step-by-step ritual is detailed.