Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

नमामि विश्वेश्वरविश्वरूपं सनातनं ब्रह्म निजात्मरूपम् । नमामि सर्वं निजभावभावं वरं वरेण्यं नतोऽस्मि

Transliteration

namāmi viśveśvaraviśvarūpaṃ sanātanaṃ brahma nijātmarūpam | namāmi sarvaṃ nijabhāvabhāvaṃ varaṃ vareṇyaṃ nato'smi

Translation

വിശ്വത്തിന്റെ രൂപമായ വിശ്വേശ്വരനെ ഞാൻ നമസ്കരിക്കുന്നു— അവൻ സനാതന ബ്രഹ്മം, അവന്റെ സ്വരൂപം ആത്മാവാണ്. അവൻ സർവ്വവും ആയി, എല്ലാ ഭാവാവസ്ഥകളുടെയും അന്തർസ്ഥ അടിസ്ഥാനമായിരിക്കുന്ന പരമ, വന്ദ്യനായ പ്രഭുവിന് ഞാൻ പ്രണാമം ചെയ്യുന്നു.

Word by Word

• नमामि: I bow to
• नमामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विश्वेश्वरविश्वरूपम्: the Lord of the universe, of universal form
• विश्वेश्वरविश्वरूपम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + ईश्वर + विश्व + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—(विश्वेश्वरः च विश्वरूपः च) इति विशेषण-समाहारः

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Karman (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying brahma/that Lord)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman / the Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (रूपम्: ब्रह्म)

• निजात्मरूपम्: whose form is one’s own Self
• निजात्मरूपम्: Karman (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज + आत्मन् + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (निजस्य आत्मनः रूपम्)

• नमामि: I bow to
• नमामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्वम्: the all / everything
• सर्वम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण/सर्वनाम-प्रयोगः (as substantive)

• निजभावभावम्: the essence of one’s own being
• निजभावभावम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज + भाव + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (निजस्य भावस्य भावः)

• वरम्: excellent
• वरम्: Karman (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the praised Lord)

• वरेण्यम्: most worthy
• वरेण्यम्: Karman (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरेण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नतः: bowed / prostrated
• नतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √नम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘bowed’

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (Copula/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Dakṣa

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedāranātha

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Rudra/Śiva

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A contemplative stuti scene where Śiva is suggested as the cosmos itself—stars, rivers, mountains, and beings subtly forming a divine silhouette—while Dakṣa bows in awe before the Kedāra shrine.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (as Viśveśvara/Brahman)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The highest Śiva is not merely a deity “out there,” but the cosmic form and the indwelling Self—realized through inner knowledge and devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of Kedārakhaṇḍa’s Kedāra-centered narration, where Śiva’s universal nature underwrites the holiness of the kṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal ritual is stated; the emphasis is contemplative praise aligning devotion with Self-knowledge.