Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

प्रोचुर्महेश्वरं गत्वा विनयावनताः स्थिताः । स्तुत्वा पृथग्विधैः सूक्तैर्वेदोक्तैः शतरुद्रियैः

Transliteration

procurmaheśvaraṃ gatvā vinayāvanatāḥ sthitāḥ | stutvā pṛthagvidhaiḥ sūktairvedoktaiḥ śatarudriyaiḥ

Translation

அவர்கள் மகேஸ்வரனை அணுகி பணிவுடன் தலைவணங்கி நின்றனர்; வேதோಕ್ತ சதருத்ரீயம் முதலிய பல சூக்தங்களால் ஸ்துதி செய்து உரைத்தனர்।

Word by Word

• प्रोचुः: they spoke; they said
• प्रोचुः: Karma-kāraka (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• महेश्वरम्: Mahēśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund)

• विनय: humility
• विनय: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद; ‘विनयावनताः’ इत्यत्र हेत्वर्थे (out of humility)

• अवनताः: bowed down in humility
• अवनताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + नम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘विनयावनताः’ = विनयेन अवनताः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/उपपदसमासभाव)

• स्थिताः: standing; remaining
• स्थिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भावे—‘standing/remaining’

• स्तुत्वा: having praised
• स्तुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्तु (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund)

• पृथक्: separately; variously
• पृथक्: Sambandha (Modifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/विशेषणार्थे (separately/variously)

• विधैः: of various kinds
• विधैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘पृथग्विधैः’ = पृथग् + विधैः (कर्मधारय: of various kinds)

• सूक्तैः: with hymns
• सूक्तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वेदोक्तैः: as stated in the Veda
• वेदोक्तैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (उक्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘वेदेन उक्तैः’ (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष) विशेषण (सूक्तैः)

• शतरुद्रियैः: with the Śatarudriya (hymns)
• शतरुद्रियैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतरुद्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (बहुधा ग्रन्थनाम), तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सूक्तविशेषः

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The devas stand before Maheśvara with folded hands, heads bowed; Śiva appears serene yet immense, while the sound of Śatarudrīya seems to fill the space like a sacred vibration.

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Devas
• Śatarudrīya
• Veda

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In times of dharmic decline, humility, devotion, and Vedic praise directed to Śiva are presented as a rightful approach to restoration.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader setting is the Nāgara Khaṇḍa’s tīrtha narration, leading into the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra and Pādukā shrine context.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Recitation/praise through Vedic hymns, specifically the Śatarudrīya, is implied as an act of worship.