Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

प्रणम्य शक्रप्रमुखा गुहं वचनमब्रुवन् । अभिषिक्तं विना स्कन्द सेनापतिमकल्मषम्

Transliteration

praṇamya śakrapramukhā guhaṃ vacanamabruvan | abhiṣiktaṃ vinā skanda senāpatimakalmaṣam

Translation

പ്രണാമം ചെയ്ത് ശക്രൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) മുതലായ ദേവന്മാർ ഗുഹനോട് പറഞ്ഞു—“ഹേ സ്കന്ദാ! കള്മഷരഹിത സേനാപതേ, നിന്റെ അഭിഷേകം കൂടാതെ…”

Word by Word

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-√नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• शक्रप्रमुखाः: those headed by Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रप्रमुखाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र-प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक; शक्र + प्रमुख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्ता; ‘शक्रः प्रमुखः येषां ते’ (Indra as chief)

• गुहम्: Guha (Skanda)
• गुहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (addressed/target)

• वचनम्: words, speech
• वचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (what was spoken)

• अब्रुवन्: said, spoke
• अब्रुवन्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अभिषिक्तम्: installed, consecrated
• अभिषिक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-√सिच् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (anointed/installed)

• विना: without
• विना: Apadana (Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक/वर्जनार्थक अव्यय (without)

• स्कन्द: O Skanda
• स्कन्द: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन

• सेनापतिम्: commander of the army
• सेनापतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना-पति (प्रातिपदिक; सेना + पति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘सेनायाः पतिः’

• अकल्मषम्: stainless, sinless
• अकल्मषम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-कल्मष (प्रातिपदिक; कल्मष ‘stain/sin’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-युक्त विशेषण ‘सेनापतिम्’

Speaker

Śakra (Indra) and the Devas (within Sūta’s narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Mahī-nadī (tīra context)

Type: tīrtha (river-bank)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Guha (Skanda) as addressed by Śakra and the devas

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra (Śakra) and the devas bow before Guha on the riverbank, hands folded, speaking earnestly about his consecration as the stainless commander; Skanda sits poised, spear at his side, the river behind as witness.

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Guha (Skanda)
• Devas
• Senāpati (commander)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Authority and leadership are sanctified through consecration; dharma values rightful installation, not mere power.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The setting remains the Mahī riverbank, though this verse focuses on the devas’ petition for Skanda’s abhiṣeka.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Abhiṣeka (ritual consecration/anointing) is introduced as necessary for Skanda’s role as senāpati.