Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 1

Devanagari script

ऋषभ उवाच । नमस्कृत्य महादेवं विश्वव्यापिनमीश्वरम् । वक्ष्ये शिवमयं वर्म सर्वरक्षाकरं नृणाम्

Transliteration

ṛṣabha uvāca | namaskṛtya mahādevaṃ viśvavyāpinamīśvaram | vakṣye śivamayaṃ varma sarvarakṣākaraṃ nṛṇām

Translation

ഋഷഭൻ പറഞ്ഞു—വിശ്വവ്യാപിയായ ഈശ്വരൻ മഹാദേവനെ നമസ്കരിച്ച്, മനുഷ്യർക്കു സമ്പൂർണ്ണ രക്ഷ നൽകുന്ന ശിവമയ വർമ്മം (കവചം) ഞാൻ പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• ऋषभः: Ṛṣabha
• ऋषभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नमस्कृत्य: having bowed/saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Absolutive/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् + √कृ (धातु) ; त्वा (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्तः—क्त्वा/त्वा (gerund), अर्थः—नमस्कारे कृत्वा (having saluted)

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva
• महादेवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• विश्व-व्यापिनम्: all-pervading
• विश्व-व्यापिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व + व्यापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विश्वं व्याप्नोति)

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वक्ष्ये: I shall declare
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (वक्ष्ये)

• शिव-मयम्: filled with Śiva / consisting of Śiva
• शिव-मयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवेन मयम्/पूर्णम्)

• वर्म: armor
• वर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्व-रक्षा-करम्: bringing complete protection
• सर्व-रक्षा-करम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + रक्षा + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां रक्षा करोति)

• नृणाम्: of men
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

Speaker

Ṛṣabha

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Ṛṣabha stands or sits with folded hands, bowing to Mahādeva; behind him a subtle cosmic Śiva form pervades space; a protective aura begins to form like armor around devotees.

Characters & Entities

• Ṛṣabha
• Mahādeva (Śiva)
• Śaiva Varma/Kavaca

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Protection is grounded in surrender and praise of the all-pervading Śiva, then embodied through a disciplined recitation taught by the ṛṣis.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is specified; the chapter introduces a general Śaiva protective kavaca.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Salutation to Mahādeva and instruction in a Śiva-centered kavaca/varma for comprehensive protection.