Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 167

Devanagari script

लोकावसाद मेकत्र लोकोद्धरणमेकतः । चराचराणि भूतानि भयविस्मयवंति च

Transliteration

lokāvasāda mekatra lokoddharaṇamekataḥ | carācarāṇi bhūtāni bhayavismayavaṃti ca

Translation

D’un côté se tenait la ruine des mondes ; de l’autre, leur relèvement et leur salut. Tous les êtres—mobiles et immobiles—étaient saisis de crainte et d’émerveillement.

Word by Word

• लोकावसादः: decline of the world
• लोकावसादः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + अवसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य अवसादः)

• एकत्र: in one place / on one side
• एकत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• लोकोद्धरणम्: uplift/saving of the world
• लोकोद्धरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य उद्धरणम्)

• एकतः: on the other side / on one side
• एकतः: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: on one side)

• चराचराणि: moving and unmoving
• चराचराणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर (धातु √चर्) + अचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (चराणि च अचराणि च)

• भूतानि: beings
• भूतानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• भयविस्मयवन्ति: having fear and astonishment
• भयविस्मयवन्ति: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), बहुवचन; उपपद-समास/समाहार-द्वन्द्व-आधारितः (भयश्च विस्मयश्च तौ यस्य) + वत्-प्रत्ययान्त

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

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pārtha (as addressed in the surrounding narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A split cosmic tableau: one side shows worlds collapsing into darkness and smoke; the other shows a radiant surge of protection, as beings—animals, trees, mountains, gods—tremble in fear yet gaze in astonishment at the saving power.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is portrayed as world-sustaining: its victory is the ‘uplift of the worlds,’ while adharma leads to collapse.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.