Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 62

Devanagari script

शाकद्वीपे च वर्ष ऋतव्रतसत्यव्रतानुव्रतनामानो वाय्यवात्कमं भगवंतं जपंति

Transliteration

śākadvīpe ca varṣa ṛtavratasatyavratānuvratanāmāno vāyyavātkamaṃ bhagavaṃtaṃ japaṃti

Translation

ଶାକଦ୍ୱୀପରେ ଋତବ୍ରତ, ସତ୍ୟବ୍ରତ ଓ ଅନୁବ୍ରତ ନାମକ ବର୍ଷ-ପ୍ରଦେଶମାନେ ସେମାନେ ଜପ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଭଗବାନ୍ ବାୟ୍ୟବାତ୍କମଙ୍କୁ ଉପାସନା କରନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• śākadvīpe: in Śākadvīpa
• śākadvīpe: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāka + dvīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (locative determinative): ‘Śāka’ + ‘island’; Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• varṣe: in the region (varṣa)
• varṣe: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन) (context: ‘in the varṣa/region’)

• ṛtavrata-satyavrata-anuvrata-nāmānaḥ: (people) named Ṛtavrata, Satyavrata, and Anuvrata
• ṛtavrata-satyavrata-anuvrata-nāmānaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛtavrata + satyavrata + anuvrata + nāman (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि/नामधारक-समास: ‘having the names Ṛtavrata, Satyavrata, Anuvrata’; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vāyyavātkamam: Vāyyavātkama (a deity/epithet)
• vāyyavātkamam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyyavātkama (प्रातिपदिक; proper name/epithet)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhagavantam: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavantam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• japanti: they recite/chant
• japanti: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jap (जप्, जपने)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Śākadvīpa (cosmic dvīpa)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Wind-swept sacred landscape of Śākadvīpa: ascetics/inhabitants seated in rows performing japa; a subtle, personified Vāyu-like deity presence (aura, flowing scarves) indicating Vāyyavātkama.

Characters & Entities

• Śākadvīpa
• Ṛtavrata
• Satyavrata
• Anuvrata
• Vāyyavātkama
• Japa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even across cosmic regions, devotion is centered on disciplined remembrance—japa as a universal dharmic practice.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not an earthly tīrtha; Śākadvīpa and its varṣas are cosmological realms described in Purāṇic geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Japa (repetitive sacred chanting/recitation) of the Lord Vāyyavātkama.