Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

बलिरुवाच । सुधा त्वया विभक्तव्या सर्वेषां गतिहेतवे । शीघ्रत्वेन महाभागे कुरुष्व वचनं मम

Transliteration

baliruvāca | sudhā tvayā vibhaktavyā sarveṣāṃ gatihetave | śīghratvena mahābhāge kuruṣva vacanaṃ mama

Translation

Bali dit : « C’est toi qui dois répartir le nectar, pour l’accomplissement et le bien de tous. Ô dame fortunée, exécute vite ma demande. »

Word by Word

• बलिः: Bali
• बलिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular perfect

• सुधा: nectar
• सुधा: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartr-karana (Agent-instrument/कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• विभक्तव्या: to be distributed
• विभक्तव्या: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-भज् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त विधेय/कर्तव्यता (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘to be distributed’

• सर्वेषाम्: of all (to all)
• सर्वेषाम्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सामान्य), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• गतिहेतवे: for the sake of (their) welfare/attainment
• गतिहेतवे: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गतेः हेतु); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular

• शीघ्रत्वेन: quickly/with speed
• शीघ्रत्वेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीघ्रत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (manner)

• महाभागे: O fortunate lady
• महाभागे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā (उपसर्ग/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; Vocative singular feminine

• कुरुष्व: do
• कुरुष्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; 2nd person singular imperative

• वचनम्: word/command
• वचनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

Speaker

Bali

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Interlocutor/pilgrim audience (unspecified)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Bali, dignified and commanding, respectfully addresses the enchanting woman, requesting swift apportionment of nectar for the ‘welfare of all’.

Characters & Entities

• Bali
• Sudhā/Amṛta
• Mohinī (addressed)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even in conflict, the language of fairness is invoked—yet true justice requires discernment, not mere delegation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is praised in this verse; it is part of the amṛta narrative within Kedārakhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; “distribution” here refers to apportioning nectar, not a ritual injunction.