Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

दक्षिणस्यां प्रतोल्यां तमेकदंतं च पीवरम् । आर्चयच्च महादेवं स्वयंभूः सुरपूजितम्

Transliteration

dakṣiṇasyāṃ pratolyāṃ tamekadaṃtaṃ ca pīvaram | ārcayacca mahādevaṃ svayaṃbhūḥ surapūjitam

Translation

À la porte du sud, il adora Celui, robuste et à une seule défense ; et il adora aussi Mahādeva, le Svayambhū, vénéré par les devas.

Word by Word

• दक्षिणस्याम्: in the southern
• दक्षिणस्याम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in the southern (side/street)’ (qualifying ‘प्रतोल्याम्’)

• प्रतोल्याम्: in the street/avenue
• प्रतोल्याम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतोलि/प्रतोल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in the street/avenue’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एकदन्तम्: the one-tusked (Gaṇeśa)
• एकदन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—एकः दन्तः यस्य (one-tusked)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• पीवरम्: stout, corpulent
• पीवरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘stout/robust’ (qualifying ‘तम्/एकदन्तम्’)

• आर्चयत्: worshipped
• आर्चयत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—महान् + देवः

• स्वयंभूः: Svayambhū (the self-born one)
• स्वयंभूः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम् + भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—स्वयम् भवति इति (self-born)

• सुरपूजितम्: worshipped by the gods
• सुरपूजितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर + पूजित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पूज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—सुरैः पूजितः (worshipped by gods)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator, contextually Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dakṣiṇa-pratolī (southern gateway) within Dharmāraṇya complex

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At the southern gateway, a devotee worships stout Ekadanta (Gaṇeśa) stationed as threshold guardian, then turns inward to worship Svayambhū Mahādeva revered by the gods.

Characters & Entities

• Ekadanta (Gaṇeśa)
• Mahādeva (Śiva)
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Auspicious beginnings and protection are sought by honoring Gaṇeśa (Ekadanta) together with Mahādeva, the source of divine order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse hints at a sacred precinct with a ‘southern gateway’ in Dharmāraṇya; it is more about ritual placement than naming a separate tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Directional worship: honoring Ekadanta at the southern entrance, and worshipping Mahādeva (svayaṃbhū) as part of the rite.