Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

शालग्रामाभिधो देवो विप्राणां त्वधिवासितः । साधूनां चोपकाराय वासुदेवः प्रतिष्ठितः

Transliteration

śālagrāmābhidho devo viprāṇāṃ tvadhivāsitaḥ | sādhūnāṃ copakārāya vāsudevaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ

Translation

‘شالگرام’ نامی دیوتا کو برہمنوں کے قیام کے لیے وہاں بسایا گیا؛ اور سادھوؤں کے فائدے کے لیے واسودیو کو اس مقدس مقام میں باقاعدہ پرتِشٹھت کیا گیا۔

Word by Word

• शालग्राम-अभिधः: named Śālagrāma
• शालग्राम-अभिधः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'शालग्राम इति अभिधा यस्य' इत्यर्थे नामवाचक-विशेषण (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/बहुव्रीह्यर्थ-सन्निकर्ष)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विप्राणाम्: of the Brahmins
• विप्राणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — emphasis/contrast

• अधिवासितः: is dwelt in/inhabited
• अधिवासितः: Kriya (Predicative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-वास् (धातु) → अधिवासित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे — 'is inhabited/dwelt in'

• साधूनाम्: of the good/saints
• साधूनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• उपकाराय: for the benefit
• उपकाराय: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose)

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रतिष्ठितः: is established
• प्रतिष्ठितः: Kriya (Predicative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-स्था (धातु) → प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि — 'is established/installed'

Speaker

Unspecified (narratorial voice within Revākhaṇḍa; likely addressing a king)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Śālagrāma (Vāsudeva-pratiṣṭhā)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Mahārāja

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A consecration scene: Vāsudeva is installed at Śālagrāma for the benefit of brāhmaṇas and sādhus; priests perform rites, ascetics receive blessings.

Characters & Entities

• Śālagrāma
• Vāsudeva
• Brāhmaṇas (vipra)
• Sādhus

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine presence is established for the uplift of the righteous; sacred installations serve society by supporting dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Śālagrāma-associated tīrtha on the Revā/Narmadā bank in Revākhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pratiṣṭhā (formal installation/enshrinement) of Vāsudeva/Śālagrāma for communal spiritual benefit.