Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणा हंसरूपेण विष्णुना क्रोडरूपिणा । अदृष्टशेखरपदः प्रणतो भक्तियोगतः

Transliteration

brahmaṇā haṃsarūpeṇa viṣṇunā kroḍarūpiṇā | adṛṣṭaśekharapadaḥ praṇato bhaktiyogataḥ

Translation

Brahmā, sous la forme d’un cygne, et Viṣṇu, sous la forme d’un sanglier, ne purent voir ni le sommet ni la base ; ainsi, par la puissance du bhakti-yoga, ils s’inclinèrent avec révérence.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• हंसरूपेण: in the form of a swan
• हंसरूपेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हंसस्य रूपेण)

• विष्णुना: by Viṣṇu
• विष्णुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्रोडरूपिणा: in boar-form
• क्रोडरूपिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोड + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्रोडस्य रूपी)

• अदृष्टशेखरपदः: whose summit/upper end was not seen
• अदृष्टशेखरपदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदृष्ट + शेखर + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वपद + षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शेखरस्य पदम् अदृष्टम् यस्य)

• प्रणतः: bowed down
• प्रणतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘bowed down’

• भक्तियोगतः: through devotional yoga
• भक्तियोगतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भक्ति + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = -तः; ‘from/through devotion-yoga’

Speaker

Śiva (deduced from Tejoliṅga narrative context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Aruṇācala (Ananta-liṅga / Jyoti)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā as a white swan ascends into the blazing column seeking the summit; Viṣṇu as a mighty boar dives downward seeking the base; both return humbled and bow with folded hands before the infinite light.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Viṣṇu
• Haṃsa (swan form)
• Varāha (boar form)
• Tejoliṅga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Infinite cannot be conquered by effort or pride; surrender through bhakti is the path to true reverence and grace.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Aruṇācala, linked to the endless pillar of Śiva’s light beyond measurable limits.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Praṇāma (bowing/surrender) rooted in bhakti is indicated, not a detailed external rite.