Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

सुरभीगर्भसंभूतं देवानूचुर्महर्षयः । स्वागतं देवदेवेभ्यो ज्ञातो वै स महेश्वरः

Transliteration

surabhīgarbhasaṃbhūtaṃ devānūcurmaharṣayaḥ | svāgataṃ devadevebhyo jñāto vai sa maheśvaraḥ

Translation

സുരഭിയുടെ ഗർഭത്തിൽ നിന്നു ജനിച്ച ആ (ദിവ്യനെ) കുറിച്ച് മഹർഷിമാർ ദേവന്മാരോട് പറഞ്ഞു—“ഹേ ദേവദേവന്മാരേ, സ്വാഗതം; ആ മഹേശ്വരൻ ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് നിശ്ചയമായും പരിചിതനാണ്.”

Word by Word

• सुरभी: of Surabhī
• सुरभी: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरभी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन — समासाङ्ग

• गर्भ: womb
• गर्भ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/षष्ठी-समासार्थ (in/of womb) — समासाङ्ग

• संभूतम्: born, arisen
• संभूतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सुरभीगर्भसंभूतम्: born from Surabhī's womb
• सुरभीगर्भसंभूतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरभी + गर्भ + संभूत (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: 'सुरभीगर्भे संभूतः' (born from/in Surabhī's womb); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• महर्षयः: great sages
• महर्षयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स्वागतम्: welcome
• स्वागतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वागत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; आशीर्वाद/सम्बोधनार्थ-प्रयोग (greeting)

• देवदेवेभ्यः: to the gods of gods / to the supreme gods
• देवदेवेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवदेव (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'देवानां देवः' (god of gods); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Dat./Abl. 4th/5th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ज्ञातः: was known/recognized
• ज्ञातः: Kriya (State/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) कर्मणि-प्रयोगे भूतार्थ (known/recognized); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारण/खल्वर्थ (indeed)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• महेश्वरः: Mahēśvara (the Great Lord)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: कर्मधारय: 'महान् ईश्वरः' (great lord); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom./1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Maharṣis (Great Sages)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Great sages address the gods, offering welcome; a miraculous figure associated with Surabhī’s womb is referenced—suggesting a bovine-linked manifestation (cow, milk, or a sacred birth motif) connected to Maheśvara’s known presence.

Characters & Entities

• Surabhī
• Maharṣayaḥ
• Devas
• Maheśvara (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sages serve as authoritative guides in sacred geography; divine beings themselves seek and receive direction through rishi-knowledge.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse points toward a divine realm connected with Surabhī and Maheśvara; the explicit locale is elaborated immediately after.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; the emphasis is on śāstra-guided orientation—approaching realized sages for correct direction.