Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

पृथिवीं पालयामास प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् । ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यवाक्छूरः शिवभक्तो निरंतरम्

Transliteration

pṛthivīṃ pālayāmāsa prajā dharmeṇa pālayan | brahmaṇyaḥ satyavākchūraḥ śivabhakto niraṃtaram

Translation

അവൻ ഭൂമിയെ ഭരിച്ചു, ധർമ്മത്താൽ പ്രജയെ സംരക്ഷിച്ചു. അവൻ ബ്രാഹ്മണ്യധർമ്മപാലകൻ, സത്യവാകൻ, ശൂരൻ, കൂടാതെ നിരന്തരം ശിവഭക്തൻ ആയിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• पृथिवीम्: the earth
• पृथिवीम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्

• पालयामास: protected, ruled
• पालयामास: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Periphrastic Perfect) परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person) एकवचनम्

• प्रजाः: subjects, people
• प्रजाः: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) बहुवचनम्

• धर्मेण: by righteousness
• धर्मेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) एकवचनम्

• पालयन्: protecting
• पालयन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √पाल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (राजा)

• ब्रह्मण्यः: devoted to Brahmins/vedic duty
• ब्रह्मण्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• सत्यवाक्: truth-speaking
• सत्यवाक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य-वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्; समासः—सत्यं वाक् यस्य (उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय); विशेषणम्

• शूरः: heroic, brave
• शूरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• शिवभक्तः: devotee of Śiva
• शिवभक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव-भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्; समासः—शिवस्य भक्तः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); विशेषणम्

• निरन्तरम्: constantly
• निरन्तरम्: Adhikarana (Adverbial/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निरन्तरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Lomaśa (narration continues)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: munis

Visual Art Cues

Scene: King Śveta on the throne dispensing justice and protecting subjects, with a Śiva-liṅga shrine nearby or a pendant/standard indicating constant Śiva devotion; brahmins honored, the king’s face calm yet heroic.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Śveta (king)
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma-centered governance and unwavering Śiva-bhakti are presented as the marks of an ideal ruler.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra-khaṇḍa frames the narrative within Kedārakṣetra’s sacred milieu, though this verse focuses on royal virtues.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific ritual is stated; the verse highlights continual devotion (niraṃtaram śivabhakti) and dharmic protection.