Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 56

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वरेतं विरूपाक्षं विश्वरूपं नमाम्य हम् । समस्तजगदाधारमनन्तमजमव्ययम्

Transliteration

ūrdhvaretaṃ virūpākṣaṃ viśvarūpaṃ namāmya ham | samastajagadādhāramanantamajamavyayam

Translation

« Je me prosterne devant Celui dont la puissance vitale est élevée, le Seigneur aux Trois Yeux, dont la forme est l’univers même ; soutien de tous les mondes, infini, non-né et impérissable. »

Word by Word

• ऊर्ध्वरेतम्: one whose semen/energy is upward (celibate)
• ऊर्ध्वरेतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व + रेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• विरूपाक्षम्: Virūpākṣa (odd/unique-eyed one)
• विरूपाक्षम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + रूप + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः—‘विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्य सः’

• विश्वरूपम्: whose form is the universe
• विश्वरूपम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• नमामि: I bow
• नमामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• समस्तजगदाधारम्: support of the entire world
• समस्तजगदाधारम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त + जगत् + आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• अनन्तम्: endless, infinite
• अनन्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• अजम्: unborn
• अजम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• अव्ययम्: imperishable, immutable
• अव्ययम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

Speaker

Dharma

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Setu-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A three-eyed Śiva stands as the universe-form: galaxies, mountains, rivers, and beings patterned within his body; Dharma bows at his feet; a vertical current of light rises along the spine symbolizing ūrdhvaretaḥ.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Virūpākṣa)
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva is praised as both supreme ascetic power and cosmic foundation—transcendent yet sustaining all existence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Setu sacred region is the narrative setting; the hymn supports Setu’s sanctity by centering worship of Mahādeva there.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is stated; the act implied is namaskāra (reverential bowing) through hymn-recitation.