Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

शालग्रामाभिधो देवो विप्राणां त्वधिवासितः । साधूनां चोपकाराय वासुदेवः प्रतिष्ठितः

Transliteration

śālagrāmābhidho devo viprāṇāṃ tvadhivāsitaḥ | sādhūnāṃ copakārāya vāsudevaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ

Translation

‘ശാലഗ്രാം’ എന്ന ദേവൻ അവിടെ ബ്രാഹ്മണർക്കായി അധിവസിപ്പിക്കപ്പെട്ടു; സാദുക്കളുടെ ഉപകാരാർത്ഥം വാസുദേവൻ വിധിപൂർവ്വം പ്രതിഷ്ഠിക്കപ്പെട്ടു।

Word by Word

• शालग्राम-अभिधः: named Śālagrāma
• शालग्राम-अभिधः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'शालग्राम इति अभिधा यस्य' इत्यर्थे नामवाचक-विशेषण (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/बहुव्रीह्यर्थ-सन्निकर्ष)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विप्राणाम्: of the Brahmins
• विप्राणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — emphasis/contrast

• अधिवासितः: is dwelt in/inhabited
• अधिवासितः: Kriya (Predicative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-वास् (धातु) → अधिवासित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे — 'is inhabited/dwelt in'

• साधूनाम्: of the good/saints
• साधूनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• उपकाराय: for the benefit
• उपकाराय: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose)

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रतिष्ठितः: is established
• प्रतिष्ठितः: Kriya (Predicative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-स्था (धातु) → प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि — 'is established/installed'

Speaker

Unspecified (narratorial voice within Revākhaṇḍa; likely addressing a king)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Śālagrāma (Vāsudeva-pratiṣṭhā)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Mahārāja

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A consecration scene: Vāsudeva is installed at Śālagrāma for the benefit of brāhmaṇas and sādhus; priests perform rites, ascetics receive blessings.

Characters & Entities

• Śālagrāma
• Vāsudeva
• Brāhmaṇas (vipra)
• Sādhus

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine presence is established for the uplift of the righteous; sacred installations serve society by supporting dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Śālagrāma-associated tīrtha on the Revā/Narmadā bank in Revākhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pratiṣṭhā (formal installation/enshrinement) of Vāsudeva/Śālagrāma for communal spiritual benefit.