Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

तंत्रीमादाय वाद्यांश्चाऽवादयञ्छंकरोत्सवे । ऋषयः कृत्स्नशश्चैव वेदगीतांस्तपोधनाः

Transliteration

taṃtrīmādāya vādyāṃścā'vādayañchaṃkarotsave | ṛṣayaḥ kṛtsnaśaścaiva vedagītāṃstapodhanāḥ

Translation

தந்திரி முதலிய வாத்தியங்களை எடுத்துக் கொண்டு அவர்கள் சங்கரரின் உற்சவத்தில் இசை எழுப்பினர்; தவவளம் மிக்க ரிஷிகள் முழுமையாக வேதகீதங்களைப் பாடினர்.

Word by Word

• तन्त्रीम्: a lute (tantrī)
• तन्त्रीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तन्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + दा (धातु) → आदाय (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having taken)

• वाद्यान्: musical instruments
• वाद्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

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

• अवादयन्: played (made resound)
• अवादयन्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वद् (धातु) (वादयति—णिजन्त)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; णिजन्त-प्रयोगः (causative: made sound/played)

• शंकरोत्सवे: at Śaṅkara’s festival
• शंकरोत्सवे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर + उत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—शंकरस्य उत्सवः

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• कृत्स्नशः: entirely, in full
• कृत्स्नशः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृत्स्नशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: wholly, entirely)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• वेदगीतान्: Vedic chants (hymns)
• वेदगीतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + गीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—वेदेषु गीताः (वेदोक्त-गीताः/मन्त्राः)

• तपोधनाः: ascetics rich in austerity
• तपोधनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—तपः धनं येषां ते

Speaker

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

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: temple/kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vibrant festival hall: gandharvas pluck vīṇās and play percussion while rows of austere sages with matted hair chant Vedic hymns in unison; Śiva’s presence is implied as the focal sanctum.

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Ṛṣis
• Veda (Vedic hymns)
• Taṃtrī (lute)
• Vādya (instruments)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva-worship harmonizes art and scripture: music (vādyas) and Vedic recitation together become offerings that sanctify the assembly.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is specified; the emphasis is on the sanctity of Śaṅkara’s utsava itself.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implied devotional practice: offering sacred music and Vedic chanting as part of a Śiva festival (utsava), though no formal vow or donation is stated.