Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 51

Devanagari script

महादेवाभ्यनुज्ञातो रामचंद्रोऽतिधार्मिकः । स्थापयित्वा स्वहस्तेन पाषाणनवकं मुदा

Transliteration

mahādevābhyanujñāto rāmacaṃdro'tidhārmikaḥ | sthāpayitvā svahastena pāṣāṇanavakaṃ mudā

Translation

Rāmacandra, d’une droiture suprême et avec l’assentiment de Mahādeva, posa de sa propre main, dans la joie, neuf pierres.

Word by Word

• महादेवाभ्यनुज्ञातः: permitted by Mahādeva
• महादेवाभ्यनुज्ञातः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यनुज्ञात (कृदन्त; धातु √ज्ञा with abhi-anu-; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महादेवेन अभ्यनुज्ञातः = permitted by Mahādeva)

• रामचन्द्रः: Rāmacandra
• रामचन्द्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); कर्मधारयः (रामः चन्द्र इव/रामचन्द्रः नाम)

• अतिधार्मिकः: very righteous
• अतिधार्मिकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); कर्मधारयः (अत्यन्तं धार्मिकः)

• स्थापयित्वा: having set up
• स्थापयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्था (धातु √स्था) + causative स्थापय् (णिच्) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक (having established/placed)

• स्वहस्तेन: with his own hand
• स्वहस्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); कर्मधारयः (स्वः हस्तः)

• पाषाणनवकम्: a set of nine stones
• पाषाणनवकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषाण (प्रातिपदिक) + नवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारयार्थः (पाषाणानां नवकम् = set of nine stones)

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Hetu/Karana (Manner/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Setu-kṣetra (marker/installation associated with pāṣāṇa-navaka)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Rāmacandra, serene yet resolute, places nine large stones in a deliberate pattern on the shore, while a subtle presence of Mahādeva’s blessing is indicated by a liṅga/halo in the background; attendants watch in reverence.

Characters & Entities

• Mahādeva (Śiva)
• Rāmacandra
• pāṣāṇa-navaka (nine stones)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even royal and heroic acts become fully dharmic when done with divine sanction and humility toward the Lord.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Setu-region (Rāmeśvaram/Setubandha sacred geography) where the bridge-making begins.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual; it records a consecratory act—Rāma’s placement of nine stones as part of the sacred undertaking.