Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 86

Devanagari script

भयभीता वयं विप्र भवद्दर्शनकांक्षिणः । त्रातारं त्वां समाकर्ण्य ब्रह्मणा नोदिता वयम्

Transliteration

bhayabhītā vayaṃ vipra bhavaddarśanakāṃkṣiṇaḥ | trātāraṃ tvāṃ samākarṇya brahmaṇā noditā vayam

Translation

Ô brāhmane, nous sommes saisis de peur et nous sommes venus, désireux de te contempler. Ayant entendu que tu es notre protecteur, Brahmā nous a exhortés à nous approcher de toi.

Word by Word

• भयभीताः: frightened by fear
• भयभीताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhīta (प्रातिपदिक; √bhī + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (भयेन भीताः), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa/sage
• विप्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम्

• भवद्दर्शनकांक्षिणः: desiring to see you
• भवद्दर्शनकांक्षिणः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक) + kāṃkṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (भवतः दर्शनं काङ्क्षन्ति), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• त्रातारम्: protector/savior
• त्रातारम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trātṛ (प्रातिपदिक; √trā + तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• समाकर्ण्य: having heard
• समाकर्ण्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√kṛ (धातु; ‘to hear’)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having heard’

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• नोदिताः: urged us
• नोदिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: naḥ (सर्वनाम; अस्मद्-षष्ठी/चतुर्थी बहुवचनस्य एनक्लिटिक) + udita (प्रातिपदिक; ud-√i/√vad?; here √vad/√nud ‘to urge’ → nodita)
• Form: नः + उदिताः/नोदिताः (sandhi); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past participle), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘urged/commissioned’

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

Speaker

Devas (gods), as narrated by Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa in Māheśvara Khaṇḍa context

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Implied audience

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Devas with anxious faces and slightly bowed shoulders plead before Dadhīci; one gestures toward the sky indicating Brahmā’s instruction; the sage remains steady, embodying protection.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even the gods seek refuge in dharmic, spiritually accomplished sages; protection is rooted in righteousness and divine order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader setting is Kedāra Khaṇḍa (Kedārakṣetra/Kedāranātha region), though this verse itself focuses on the devas’ appeal.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; it establishes a supplicatory approach (śaraṇāgati) to a protector-sage.