Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

तं पादयोर्निपतितं समालिंग्य सहात्मजम् । साशिषं स्वसमीपस्थमुपवेश्येदमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

taṃ pādayornipatitaṃ samāliṃgya sahātmajam | sāśiṣaṃ svasamīpasthamupaveśyedamabravīt

Translation

അവൻ അവിടുത്തെ പാദങ്ങളിൽ വീണപ്പോൾ, (ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണൻ) അവനെ പുത്രനോടുകൂടെ ആലിംഗനം ചെയ്ത് ആശീർവദിച്ചു, സമീപത്ത് ഇരുത്തി പിന്നെ ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു।

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पादयोः: at (his) feet
• पादयोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), द्विवचन; ‘in/at the feet’ (locative dual)

• निपतितम्: fallen down
• निपतितम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+पत् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘fallen/prostrated’

• समालिङ्ग्य: having embraced
• समालिङ्ग्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+लिङ्ग् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having embraced’

• सहात्मजम्: together with (his) son
• सहात्मजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सह-आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक; सह + आत्मज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सह आत्मजेन/आत्मजसहितम्)

• साशिषम्: with blessings
• साशिषम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-आशिष् (प्रातिपदिक; सह + आशिष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (आशिषा सहितम्)

• स्वसमीपस्थम्: standing/being near himself
• स्वसमीपस्थम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-समīप-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + समीप + स्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (स्वस्य समीपे स्थितम्)

• उपवेश्य: having seated
• उपवेश्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), causative sense in usage ‘having seated (him)’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; वाक्यविषय (object of speech)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

Speaker

Sūta (narration; Kṛṣṇa is the actor who will speak next)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā (implied)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (frame implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The visitor lies prostrate at Kṛṣṇa’s feet; Kṛṣṇa lifts him up, embraces both father and son, places a hand in blessing, and seats them close on a jeweled dais while courtiers watch in respectful silence.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Ghaṭotkaca
• Ghaṭotkaca’s son

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sincere surrender at the Lord’s feet is met with grace—embrace, blessing, and intimate acceptance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā is celebrated as the place where devotees receive Kṛṣṇa’s direct welcome and blessing.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Praṇipāta (falling at the feet) and receiving āśīr-vāda (blessings) are shown as core devotional practices.