Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 53

Devanagari script

प्रत्ययार्थं च सत्त्वानि ह्यनेकानि व्रतानि वै । बलिप्रत्ययभूतानि स चकारः पुरंदरः

Transliteration

pratyayārthaṃ ca sattvāni hyanekāni vratāni vai | balipratyayabhūtāni sa cakāraḥ puraṃdaraḥ

Translation

प्रत्ययार्थं च सत्त्वानि ह्यनेकानि व्रतानि वै। बलिप्रत्ययभूतानि स चकार पुरंदरः॥

Word by Word

• प्रत्ययार्थम्: for the sake of assurance/proof
• प्रत्ययार्थम्: Karma (Purpose-object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्यय-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (प्रत्ययस्य अर्थः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• सत्त्वानि: beings/creatures
• सत्त्वानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; अत्र कर्मरूपेण (performed beings/acts)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed)

• अनेकानि: many
• अनेकानि: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘सत्त्वानि/व्रतानि’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• व्रतानि: vows/observances
• व्रतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; अत्र कर्मरूपेण

• वै: surely
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: surely/indeed)

• बलिप्रत्ययभूतानि: serving as offerings and assurances
• बलिप्रत्ययभूतानि: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलि-प्रत्यय-भूत (प्रातिपदिक; बलि + प्रत्यय + भूत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (बलिः प्रत्ययः च, तयोः भूतानि = serving as offering and assurance)

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

• चकार: did/performed
• चकार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पुरंदरः: Purandara (Indra)
• पुरंदरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरंदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; शक्रस्य उपनाम

Speaker

Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa (narrator)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra (frame)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra performs multiple vows/acts of good faith as guarantees to Bali—depicted as ritual observances: fasting, offering, fire-rite, or solemn oath before witnesses.

Characters & Entities

• Puraṃdara (Indra)
• Bali
• Vrata
• Pratyaya (assurance)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Trust is sustained by visible commitments—vows and righteous conduct that function as guarantees.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedārakhaṇḍa context is present, but this verse is about vratas as assurances, not a tīrtha description.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vrata (vow-observance) is mentioned as a formal act to establish pratyaya (confidence).