Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

स्वयमीश महादेव प्रसीद भुवनाधिक । आदिश प्रयतं भक्तमपेक्षितनियुक्तिषु

Transliteration

svayamīśa mahādeva prasīda bhuvanādhika | ādiśa prayataṃ bhaktamapekṣitaniyuktiṣu

Translation

اے رب، اے مہادیو—مہربانی فرما، اے جہانوں سے برتر۔ خود ہی اس باادب و ریاضت گزار بھکت کو منتظر فرائض اور تقرریوں میں حکم دے۔

Word by Word

• svayam: of yourself; yourself
• svayam: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), प्रकारवाचक (adverbial: ‘of oneself/oneself’)

• īśa: O Lord
• īśa: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• mahādeva: O Mahādeva
• mahādeva: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘महान् देवः’)

• prasīda: be gracious; be pleased
• prasīda: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√sad (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• bhuvanādhika: O one superior to the worlds
• bhuvanādhika: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvana + adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘भुवनेभ्यः अधिकः’ = superior to the worlds)

• ādiśa: command; instruct
• ādiśa: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√diś (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• prayatam: disciplined; self-controlled
• prayatam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prayata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• bhaktam: devotee
• bhaktam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• apekṣita: desired; expected
• apekṣita: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apekṣita (कृदन्त; √īkṣ with apa-; past passive participle)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-समर्थ (here as पूर्वपद), ‘desired/expected’

• niyuktiṣu: in the appointments/engagements (duties)
• niyuktiṣu: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Brahmā

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Aruṇācala

Type: peak

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A disciplined devotee, hands joined, implores Mahādeva to personally command him; Śiva sits in serene majesty, suggesting Aruṇācala’s fiery presence in the background.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Īśa, Mahādeva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A devotee seeks not only blessings but also Śiva’s guidance for right action (niyukti) in dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The prayer stands within the Arunachala Mahatmya narrative framework, tied to Arunachala’s sanctifying presence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific ritual; it is a supplication for divine instruction and dharmic appointment.