Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 91

Devanagari script

नाम्ना विचित्रवीर्योऽसौ सुभगः संदुरी प्रियः । राज्यं महत्तरं प्राप्य निःस्तंभो हि महानभूत्

Transliteration

nāmnā vicitravīryo'sau subhagaḥ saṃdurī priyaḥ | rājyaṃ mahattaraṃ prāpya niḥstaṃbho hi mahānabhūt

Translation

Il se nommait Vicitravīrya, heureux, aimé et cher à tous. Ayant obtenu un vaste royaume, il devint véritablement grand, exempt d’orgueil.

Word by Word

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ‘by name’ (instrumental of specification)

• विचित्रवीर्यः: Vicitravīrya (wondrous-valored)
• विचित्रवीर्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचित्र-वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘विचित्रं वीर्यं यस्य/विचित्रवीर्यः’ (having wondrous valor)

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

• सुभगः: fortunate/handsome
• सुभगः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• संदुरी: graceful/pleasing (reading uncertain)
• संदुरी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संदुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषण (दुर्लभ/पाठभेद-संभव)

• प्रियः: dear
• प्रियः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• महत्तरम्: greater
• महत्तरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + तरप् (तद्धित/तुलनात्मक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; comparative ‘greater’

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Kriya (पूर्वकर्म/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्ग: प्र-, धातु: आप् (to obtain)

• निःस्तंभः: humble/without pride
• निःस्तंभः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः-स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक; उपसर्गपूर्वक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘without arrogance/support’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतु/खलु-अर्थ

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa/Sūta (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra (Kedāranātha)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Vicitravīrya enthroned in a vast kingdom, yet with folded hands to elders and Śiva; courtiers marvel at his modesty; symbols of power subdued by devotional demeanor.

Characters & Entities

• Vicitravīrya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True greatness is shown as prosperity joined with humility—an outcome of purifying merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedāra Śaiva milieu remains the source of the merit that elevated him to noble kingship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse continues describing the results of Śivarātri-associated merit.