Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 68

Devanagari script

महाविद्या महामाया महामेधास्वरूपिणी । रुद्रकाली च अंबा च सती दाक्षायणी परा

Transliteration

mahāvidyā mahāmāyā mahāmedhāsvarūpiṇī | rudrakālī ca aṃbā ca satī dākṣāyaṇī parā

Translation

Elle est la Grande Connaissance, la Grande Illusion, l’incarnation même de l’intelligence suprême ; elle est Rudrakālī, et aussi Ambā — Satī, la Dākṣāyaṇī transcendante.

Word by Word

• महाविद्या: the Great Knowledge (name/epithet)
• महाविद्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाविद्या (प्रातिपदिक) = महा + विद्या
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• महामाया: the Great Illusion/Power (epithet)
• महामाया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामाया (प्रातिपदिक) = महा + माया
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• महामेधास्वरूपिणी: having the form of great intelligence
• महामेधास्वरूपिणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामेधास्वरूपिणी (प्रातिपदिक) = महा + मेधा + स्वरूपिणी
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjectival epithet)

• रुद्रकाली: Rudra-Kālī (epithet/name)
• रुद्रकाली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्रकाली (प्रातिपदिक) = रुद्र + काली
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अम्बा: Mother (Ambā)
• अम्बा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सती: Satī (name)
• सती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• दाक्षायणी: Dākṣāyaṇī (daughter of Dakṣa)
• दाक्षायणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाक्षायणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• परा: supreme
• परा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa), in narration to the sages (contextual attribution within Māheśvara Khaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra (narrative setting)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A hymn-like tableau: the Goddess envisioned simultaneously as Mahāvidyā and Mahāmāyā—radiant, many-epitheted—standing beside or within the aura of Rudra, with subtle symbols of wisdom (book/rosary) and power (trident/skull-cup) harmonized.

Characters & Entities

• Mahāvidyā
• Mahāmāyā
• Rudrakālī
• Ambā
• Satī
• Dākṣāyaṇī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Goddess is praised as the supreme reality—wisdom, power, and motherly refuge—manifesting in many sacred names.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse belongs to Kedāra Khaṇḍa’s Himalayan sacred setting; it primarily glorifies Devī rather than a single tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it functions as a theological identification and praise (stuti) of Devī.