Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

सा च ब्रह्मांडद्वारे वै सदैव विहितालया । चतुर्विंशतिकोटीभिर्देवीभिः परिरक्षिता

Transliteration

sā ca brahmāṃḍadvāre vai sadaiva vihitālayā | caturviṃśatikoṭībhirdevībhiḥ parirakṣitā

Translation

ആ ദേവി ‘ബ്രഹ്മാണ്ഡദ്വാരം’ എന്ന സ്ഥലത്ത് നിത്യവും നിശ്ചിത ആലയത്തിൽ വസിക്കുന്നു. ഇരുപത്തിനാലു കോടി ദേവിമാർ ചുറ്റുമെല്ലാം അവളെ കാത്തുരക്ഷിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ब्रह्माण्डद्वारे: at the gate of the Brahmāṇḍa
• ब्रह्माण्डद्वारे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्माण्ड + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्माण्डस्य द्वारम्)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Emphasis (निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• सदैव: always
• सदैव: Adverbial (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा + एव (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: always)

• विहितालया: having an appointed abode
• विहितालया: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विहित + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (विहितः आलयः यस्याः/या) ; विशेषणम् (सा इति)

• चतुर्विंशतिकोटीभिः: by twenty-four crores
• चतुर्विंशतिकोटीभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्विंशति + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः द्विगुः (चतुर्विंशतिः कोटयः)

• देवीभिः: by goddesses
• देवीभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• परिरक्षिता: protected, guarded
• परिरक्षिता: Kriya (State/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (भूतकर्मणि/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘सा’ इति कर्तृस्थाने

Speaker

Nārada

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Brahmāṇḍa-dvāra (Aparadvārakā-ālayā)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pāṇḍava

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A monumental cosmic gate inscribed with yantric patterns; Aparadvārakā Devī stands at the threshold, while countless attendant goddesses form concentric protective circles like a living mandala.

Characters & Entities

• Aparadvārakā Devī
• Brahmāṇḍadvāra
• Devīs (24 koṭi)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A tīrtha-kṣetra is presented as cosmically protected—divine presence is supported by vast networks of Devīs.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Brahmāṇḍadvāra, the ‘cosmic gate’ where Aparadvārakā Devī resides.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is stated here; the verse establishes the sanctity and divine protection of the Goddess’s abode.