Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

तदा प्रभृति राजेन्द्र बलाकैरिव भूषितम् । प्रत्ययार्थं स्थितं लिङ्गं लोकानुग्रहकाम्यया

Transliteration

tadā prabhṛti rājendra balākairiva bhūṣitam | pratyayārthaṃ sthitaṃ liṅgaṃ lokānugrahakāmyayā

Translation

ഹേ രാജേന്ദ്രാ! അന്നുമുതൽ ലോകാനുഗ്രഹം ആഗ്രഹിച്ച് സാക്ഷ്യാർത്ഥമായി നിലകൊണ്ട ആ ലിംഗം ബലാകാ പക്ഷികളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടതുപോലെ ശോഭിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• prabhṛti: from (that time) onward
• prabhṛti: Apadana (Point of departure/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prabhṛti (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: आरम्भवाचक-अव्यय (from, starting from)

• rājendra: O king of kings
• rājendra: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; राज्ञाम् इन्द्रः (king of kings)

• balākaiḥ: with cranes (balākā birds)
• balākaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balākā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (Comparison/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• bhūṣitam: adorned
• bhūṣitam: Kriya (State/अवस्था-क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūṣ (धातु) + ta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘भूषितम्’ = adorned

• pratyayārtham: for assurance (as proof)
• pratyayārtham: Hetu (Purpose/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratyaya + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रत्ययस्य अर्थः (for the sake of assurance/faith)

• sthitam: placed, standing
• sthitam: Kriya (State/अवस्था-क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (धातु) + ta (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘स्थितम्’ = placed/standing

• liṅgam: the liṅga
• liṅgam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• lokānugrahakāmyayā: by the wish to benefit the worlds
• lokānugrahakāmyayā: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka + anugraha + kāmyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; लोकानाम् अनुग्रहः तस्य काम्या (by the desire to favor the worlds)

Speaker

Narrator (addressing a king)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Devamārga-liṅga

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: King (rājendra) addressed in this verse

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The liṅga stands established and ornamented, appearing as if adorned with white balākā birds—suggesting bright, clustered decorations or natural motifs around it—signifying a miraculous proof for devotees.

Characters & Entities

• liṅga
• Balākeśvara (implied)
• balākā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred symbols in tīrthas serve as ‘pratyaya’—assurance that divine grace is accessible for the welfare of all.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Devamārga, where the liṅga became renowned through the balākā-adornment and its role as a public sign of grace.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is detailed here; it establishes the liṅga’s purpose as a beneficent, faith-confirming presence.