Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

संहारं सर्वभूतानां रुद्रत्वे कुरुते प्रभुः । विष्णुत्वे पालयेल्लोकान्ब्रह्मत्वे सृष्टिकारकः

Transliteration

saṃhāraṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ rudratve kurute prabhuḥ | viṣṇutve pālayellokānbrahmatve sṛṣṭikārakaḥ

Translation

رُدر کے روپ میں پرَبھو سب جانداروں کا سنہار کرتا ہے؛ وِشنو کے روپ میں جہانوں کی پالنا کرتا ہے؛ اور برہما کے روپ میں سِرشٹی کا رچنہار بنتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• saṃhāram: destruction, dissolution
• saṃhāram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• sarvabhūtānām: of all beings
• sarvabhūtānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन — Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• rudratve: in the state of Rudra-hood
• rudratve: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudratva (प्रातिपदिक; -त्व प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Neuter, Locative, Singular

• kurute: does, performs
• kurute: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Present, 3rd person, Singular (Ātmanepada)

• prabhuḥ: the Lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• viṣṇutve: in the state of Viṣṇu-hood
• viṣṇutve: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇutva (प्रातिपदिक; -त्व प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Neuter, Locative, Singular

• pālayet: should protect, would protect
• pālayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pāl (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (आज्ञार्थ/सम्भावना), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, 3rd person, Singular (Parasmaipada)

• lokān: worlds, people
• lokān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• brahmatve: in the state of Brahmā-hood
• brahmatve: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmatva (प्रातिपदिक; -त्व प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Neuter, Locative, Singular

• sṛṣṭikārakaḥ: creator, maker of creation
• sṛṣṭikārakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/विशेष्य), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Unknown (narrative voice within Revā Khaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A single radiant Parameśvara stands at the center, with three emanations: Rudra with trident and ash, Viṣṇu with conch-disc, Brahmā with four faces and lotus—each performing dissolution, protection, and creation in a cosmic panorama.

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Viṣṇu
• Brahmā
• Prabhu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The cosmic functions of creation, preservation, and dissolution are expressions of one sovereign divine reality.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not specified in this verse; it is a doctrinal statement within the Revā Khaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.