Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 135

Devanagari script

प्रतिमां मधुवृक्षस्य शाङ्करीमुमया सह । कारयित्वा द्विजवरैः प्रतिष्ठाप्य यथाविधि

Transliteration

pratimāṃ madhuvṛkṣasya śāṅkarīmumayā saha | kārayitvā dvijavaraiḥ pratiṣṭhāpya yathāvidhi

Translation

Après avoir fait façonner une image sacrée—de Śaṅkara avec Umā, en lien avec l’arbre madhūka—qu’on la fasse installer par d’excellents brāhmaṇas selon le rite prescrit.

Word by Word

• प्रतिमाम्: an image/idol
• प्रतिमाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (image)

• मधुवृक्षस्य: of the Madhūka tree
• मधुवृक्षस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular (of the Madhūka tree)

• शाङ्करीम्: Śaiva, of Śaṅkara
• शाङ्करीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाङ्करी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular; प्रतिमाम्-विशेषण (pertaining to Śaṅkara/Śiva)

• उमया: with Umā
• उमया: Sahakaraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (with Umā)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय; postposition (together with)

• कारयित्वा: having had (it) made
• कारयित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) [णिच् causative: कारय]
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त धातोः क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive); ‘कारयित्वा’ = having caused to be made

• द्विजवरैः: by eminent Brahmins
• द्विजवरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural (by excellent Brahmins)

• प्रतिष्ठाप्य: having installed
• प्रतिष्ठाप्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + स्था (धातु) [णिच्/causative sense in usage]
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ल्यप्); Absolutive/gerund (having installed/established)

• यथाविधि: according to the prescribed rule
• यथाविधि: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (according to rule)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Madhūka-associated Śaṅkara-Umā pratiṣṭhā (within the vrata)

Type: temple

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: subhagā/bhāminī (same addressee across verses)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Artisans and brāhmaṇas prepare and install an image of Śaṅkara with Umā; a madhūka tree stands nearby, garlanded. Ritual vessels, fire altar, and consecration gestures (sprinkling, mantra) dominate the scene.

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Umā
• madhūka (madhuvṛkṣa)
• brāhmaṇas (dvija)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotional practice is strengthened by proper consecration—worship is aligned with dharma when done ‘yathāvidhi’ through qualified priests.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Revā (Narmadā) region is the implied sacred landscape; the verse highlights ritual installation rather than naming a single tirtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Commission and install an Umā–Śaṅkara image (connected with the madhūka tree) through competent brāhmaṇas according to prescribed rites.