Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

कृतसंविदसौ तेन बकः स्वागतपूजया । पृष्टश्च तावुभौ प्राह तत्सर्वमभिवांछितम्

Transliteration

kṛtasaṃvidasau tena bakaḥ svāgatapūjayā | pṛṣṭaśca tāvubhau prāha tatsarvamabhivāṃchitam

Translation

Après avoir scellé une entente par l’accueil et les honneurs, cet oiseau Baka fut interrogé ; et il dit à tous deux tout ce qu’ils désiraient savoir.

Word by Word

• कृतसंविदौ: having made an agreement
• कृतसंविदौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ-धातुज क्त-प्रत्यय) + संविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘having made an agreement/compact’) विशेषण (to असौ/बकः)

• असौ: that one (he)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• तेन: by him; with him
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• बकः: the crane (baka)
• बकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• स्वागतपूजया: with a welcoming reception/worship
• स्वागतपूजया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वागत + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘with a welcoming worship’)

• पृष्टः: having been asked
• पृष्टः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता; patient as subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; अत्र द्वितीया (object) ‘those two’

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), द्विवचन; तौ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु; ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (to सर्वम्/अभिवाञ्छितम्)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अभिवाञ्छितम्: desired; wished for
• अभिवाञ्छितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + वाञ्छ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (‘desired’)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrative voice)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kailāsa (contextual)

Type: peak

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The brāhmaṇas greet and honor Baka with ritual courtesy; the bird, dignified and attentive, responds as an oracle-like witness, ready to disclose what is sought.

Characters & Entities

• Baka
• Prākārakarṇa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Svāgata (hospitality) is dharma, and sincere seekers receive the guidance they seek in sacred settings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The immediate setting continues around Kailāsa/Śiva’s abode, though no new tīrtha-name is introduced in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Welcoming honor (svāgata-pūjā) is referenced as proper conduct, not as a formal vrata.