Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

तदा सर्वे सुरगणा ब्रह्मविष्णुपुरोगमाः । मेरुपृष्ठं समासाद्य सुमंत्रं चक्रिरे तदा

Transliteration

tadā sarve suragaṇā brahmaviṣṇupurogamāḥ | merupṛṣṭhaṃ samāsādya sumaṃtraṃ cakrire tadā

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ബ്രഹ്മാ-വിഷ്ണുമാരുടെ നേതൃത്വത്തിൽ എല്ലാ ദേവഗണങ്ങളും മേരു പർവതത്തിന്റെ പൃഷ്ഠഭാഗം (ശിഖരപ്രദേശം) പ്രാപിച്ച്, അവിടെ മംഗളകരമായ മന്ത്രാനുഷ്ഠാനം നടത്തി.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक-अव्यय; adverb of time)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण — Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सुरगणाः: hosts of gods
• सुरगणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सुराणां गणाः) — Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ब्रह्मविष्णुपुरोगमाः: having Brahmā and Viṣṇu in the forefront
• ब्रह्मविष्णुपुरोगमाः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + विष्णु + पुरोगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (ब्रह्म-विष्णू पुरोगमौ येषां ते) — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; possessive compound adjective

• मेरुपृष्ठम्: the back/slope of Meru
• मेरुपृष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मेरोः पृष्ठम्) — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• समासाद्य: having reached/approached
• समासाद्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-√सद् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष (absolutive/gerund) — having approached/reached

• सुमन्त्रम्: a good counsel/auspicious plan
• सुमन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सुः मन्त्रः) — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चक्रिरे: they made/they devised
• चक्रिरे: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद — Perfect, 3rd person, Plural, Ātmanepada

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक-अव्यय; adverb of time)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Meru

Type: peak

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene summit of Meru: Brahmā and Viṣṇu at the fore, surrounded by devas in orderly ranks, performing a solemn mantra-rite with fire altar, offerings, and a luminous mandala-like sky.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Brahmā
• Viṣṇu
• Mount Meru

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When cosmic order is threatened, the devas respond through collective prayer, mantra, and right counsel—spiritual means before force.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Mount Meru is highlighted as a divine meeting-place; it is a cosmic sacred geography marker rather than a human pilgrimage tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Performance of an auspicious mantra rite/counsel (sumaṃtra) is mentioned in narrative form.