Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

आलोककृल्लोकनाथो लोकपालनमस्कृतः । विदिताशयश्च सुनयो महात्मा भक्तवत्सलः

Transliteration

ālokakṛllokanātho lokapālanamaskṛtaḥ | viditāśayaśca sunayo mahātmā bhaktavatsalaḥ

Translation

അവൻ പ്രകാശത്തിന്റെ കര്‍ത്താവ്, ലോകങ്ങളുടെ നാഥൻ, ലോകപാലകരാലും നമസ്കരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നവൻ; ഹൃദയാശയങ്ങളെ അറിയുന്നവൻ; സന്മാർഗ്ഗദാതാവ്; മഹാത്മാവും ഭക്തവത്സലനും ആകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• आलोककृत्: maker of light; illuminator
• आलोककृत्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आलोक (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आलोकं करोति)

• लोकनाथः: lord of the worlds
• लोकनाथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकानां नाथः)

• लोकपालनमस्कृतः: revered by the guardians of the worlds
• लोकपालनमस्कृतः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक) + नमस्कृत (कृदन्त; नमस् + कृ धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकपालैः नमस्कृतः)

• विदिताशयः: one whose intention is known/clear
• विदिताशयः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विदित (कृदन्त; विद् धातु) + आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) + सुबन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (विदितः आशयः यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुनयः: of good conduct; well-guided
• सुनयः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + नय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (सु-नयः = उत्तमः नयः/नीतिः यस्य)

• महात्मा: great-souled one
• महात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् आत्मा)

• भक्तवत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्तवत्सलः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भक्तानां वत्सलः)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant deity as ‘maker of illumination’ seated or standing in a halo of light; lokapālas (Indra, Yama, Varuṇa, Kubera) shown in reverent añjali; devotees at the feet; subtle indication of the deity reading hearts (a lotus/heart-lotus motif).

Characters & Entities

• Sūrya
• Lokapālas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True light is both cosmic and ethical: the Sun illuminates the world and also guides the devotee toward right conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse praises Sūrya’s universal lordship and devotional accessibility.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None stated; it aligns with devotional recitation and contemplation of the Sun as the knower of hearts.