Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

ततो हिमाचलस्तत्र दृश्यते व्याकुलाकुलः । आदिशदात्मभृत्यानां महादेव उपस्थिते

Transliteration

tato himācalastatra dṛśyate vyākulākulaḥ | ādiśadātmabhṛtyānāṃ mahādeva upasthite

Translation

Alors on vit Himācala (l’Himālaya) en ce lieu, anxieux et troublé. Mahādeva étant présent, il se mit à donner des instructions à ses propres serviteurs.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Desha-Kala (Temporal/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तदस्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• हिमाचलः: Himālaya (snow-mountain)
• हिमाचलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिम + अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—हिमः अचलः (कर्मधारय)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• व्याकुलाकुलः: agitated and distressed
• व्याकुलाकुलः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याकुल + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—व्याकुलः च आकुलः च (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व), विशेषणम् (हिमाचलः)

• आदिशत्: commanded/ordered
• आदिशत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• आत्मभृत्यानाम्: to/for his own servants
• आत्मभृत्यानाम्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—आत्मनः भृत्याः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• महादेव: O Mahādeva
• महादेव: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—महान् देवः (कर्मधारय)

• उपस्थिते: when present
• उपस्थिते: Adhikarana (Circumstance/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; उप + √स्था)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute): ‘when (you) are present’

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Himācala, personified as a regal mountain-king, appears visibly anxious—brows knit, hands gesturing—issuing rapid instructions to attendants while Mahādeva stands present, calm and luminous.

Characters & Entities

• Himālaya (Himācala)
• Śiva (Mahādeva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even the greatest hosts feel awe before divinity; careful service and preparedness are themselves forms of dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Himālaya’s abode is the sacred setting, framed as a divine venue worthy of meticulous hospitality.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal rite is prescribed; the verse stresses proper organization of attendants as part of auspicious reception.