Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 56

Devanagari script

दण्डवत्पतिताः सर्वे शंकरं लोकशंकरम् । तुष्टुवुः प्रणताः सर्वे प्रमथा गुह्यकादयः

Transliteration

daṇḍavatpatitāḥ sarve śaṃkaraṃ lokaśaṃkaram | tuṣṭuvuḥ praṇatāḥ sarve pramathā guhyakādayaḥ

Translation

എല്ലാവരും ലോകമംഗളകരനായ ശങ്കരന്റെ മുമ്പിൽ ദണ്ഡവത് സാഷ്ടാംഗമായി വീണു നമസ്കരിച്ചു. പ്രണതരായി പ്രമഥന്മാരും ഗുഹ്യകരും മുതലായവരും എല്ലാവരും അവനെ സ്തുതിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• दण्डवत्: like a staff; prostrate
• दण्डवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• पतिताः: fallen; having prostrated
• पतिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → पतित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-शब्द

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शंकरम्: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• लोकशंकरम्: benefactor of the world
• लोकशंकरम्: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): लोकस्य शंकरः; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; शंकरम् इति विशेषण/उपाधि

• तुष्टुवुः: they praised
• तुष्टुवुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• प्रणताः: bowed down
• प्रणताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → प्रणत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• प्रमथाः: the Pramathas (Śiva’s attendants)
• प्रमथाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• गुह्यक-आदयः: the Guhyakas and others
• गुह्यक-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्यक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/परिग्रहवाचक तत्पुरुष: गुह्यकाः आदयः येषाम्; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Narrator (contextual, likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa in Māheśvarakhaṇḍa frame)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Pramathas, Guhyakas and other semi-divine attendants fall in a single wave of full-body prostration before Śaṅkara, who stands serene and world-protecting.

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Pramathas
• Guhyakas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Humility (prostration) and praise are shown as the natural devotional response to Śiva, the auspicious protector of the worlds.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedāra-khaṇḍa Himalayan setting frames the scene, though the verse itself centers on worship of Śiva rather than a named tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A devotional act is implied: daṇḍavat-praṇāma (full prostration) and stuti (praise).