Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

सिद्धिदा साधकेंद्राणां महाविद्यां जपंति ये । धीरेभ्यो ब्रह्मचारिभ्यः सत्यचित्तेभ्य एव च

Transliteration

siddhidā sādhakeṃdrāṇāṃ mahāvidyāṃ japaṃti ye | dhīrebhyo brahmacāribhyaḥ satyacittebhya eva ca

Translation

അവൾ സാധകേന്ദ്രന്മാർക്ക് സിദ്ധിദായിനി—മഹാവിദ്യ ജപിക്കുന്നവർക്ക്. ധീരർക്കും ബ്രഹ്മചാരികൾക്കും സത്യത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിതചിത്തർക്കും അവൾ വരം നൽകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• सिद्धिदा: giver of siddhis
• सिद्धिदा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्धि + दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सिद्धिं ददाति इति)

• साधकेन्द्राणाम्: of the best among practitioners
• साधकेन्द्राणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (साधकानाम् इन्द्राः)

• महाविद्याम्: the great Vidyā (mantra/knowledge)
• महाविद्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः

• जपन्ति: recite
• जपन्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• धीरेभ्यः: to the steadfast/wise
• धीरेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th)/पञ्चमी (5th), बहुवचन; अत्र दान-सम्बन्धे चतुर्थी (to)

• ब्रह्मचारिभ्यः: to brahmacārins (celibate students)
• ब्रह्मचारिभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th)/पञ्चमी (5th), बहुवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (to)

• सत्यचित्तेभ्यः: to those of truthful mind
• सत्यचित्तेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th)/पञ्चमी (5th), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः; अत्र चतुर्थी (to)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

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

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), by Māheśvarakhaṇḍa contextual attribution

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Siddhāmbikā Mahāvidyā-japa kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of austere sādhakas—brahmacārins with matted hair or neatly tied topknots—sit in a cave courtyard chanting Mahāvidyā; Siddhāmbikā presides, bestowing boons to the steadfast and truthful.

Characters & Entities

• Siddhāmbikā (implied)
• Mahāvidyā
• Sādhaka
• Brahmacarya
• Satya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Mantra-power matures in those grounded in dharma—steadfastness, brahmacarya, and truthfulness—making them fit vessels for siddhi.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Siddhakūpa/Siddheśa region where Siddhāmbikā is present and grants results to qualified practitioners.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Japa of the Mahāvidyā, supported by brahmacarya, dhairya (steadfastness), and satya (truthfulness).