Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 86

Devanagari script

शंखचक्रगदापाणे मां समुद्धर माधव

Transliteration

śaṃkhacakragadāpāṇe māṃ samuddhara mādhava

Translation

ശംഖചക്രഗദാധരനായ മാധവാ! എന്നെ ഉയർത്തി ഈ സംസാരസാഗരത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ഉദ്ധരിക്കണമേ।

Word by Word

• शंख-चक्र-गदा-पाणे: O one whose hand holds conch, discus, and mace
• शंख-चक्र-गदा-पाणे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख + चक्र + गदा + पाणि (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शंखचक्रगदाः यस्य पाणौ/पाणिषु); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th, vocative), एकवचनम्

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचनम्, द्वितीया (2nd, accusative)

• समुद्धर: lift up/rescue
• समुद्धर: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√हृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः—सम् + उद्; धातुः—√हृ (हरणे)

• माधव: O Mādhava
• माधव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Viṣṇuśarmā (devotee, supplication within the hymn)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ayodhyā-kṣetra (Sarayū-tīrtha implied)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee in folded hands pleads to Mādhava; Viṣṇu is envisioned with śaṅkha, cakra, and gadā, radiating protective compassion.

Characters & Entities

• Mādhava (Viṣṇu)
• Śaṅkha
• Cakra
• Gadā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sincere surrender (śaraṇāgati) to Viṣṇu is a direct call for liberation and protection.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Ayodhyā is the narrative setting; the prayer arises within its Māhātmya, highlighting the city as a sacred space for grace.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is specified; it is a short mantra-like plea suitable for japa as an invocation of rescue.