Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

नक्षत्राणि ग्रहाश्चैव जंगमं स्थावरं तथा । मातरश्च महादेवमनुजग्मुः क्षुधान्विताः

Transliteration

nakṣatrāṇi grahāścaiva jaṃgamaṃ sthāvaraṃ tathā | mātaraśca mahādevamanujagmuḥ kṣudhānvitāḥ

Translation

نکشتر اور سیارے بھی، متحرک اور ساکن سبھی؛ اور ماترائیں (ماؤں کی دیویاں) بھوک کی شدت سے بے قرار ہو کر مہادیو کے پیچھے چل پڑیں۔

Word by Word

• नक्षत्राणि: constellations
• नक्षत्राणि: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Neuter, Nom, Plural)

• ग्रहाः: planets
• ग्रहाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nom, Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle: indeed/just)

• जङ्गमम्: the moving (creatures)
• जङ्गमम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); ‘moving beings’ (collective)

• स्थावरम्: the immobile (things)
• स्थावरम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); ‘immobile beings’ (collective)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)

• मातरः: mothers (Mātṛs)
• मातरः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Feminine, Nom, Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva
• महादेवम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Masculine, Acc, Singular)

• अनुजग्मुः: followed
• अनुजग्मुः: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्ण), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (Perfect, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural)

• क्षुधान्विताः: endowed with hunger
• क्षुधान्विताः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुधा + अन्वित (अन् धातु + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nom, Plural)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A cosmic procession where nakṣatras and grahas appear as radiant deities in the sky; below, animals, humans, trees, mountains (jaṅgama-sthāvara) lean forward as if drawn; the Mātṛkās follow Mahādeva with fierce, hungry intensity.

Characters & Entities

• Nakṣatras
• Grahas
• Jaṅgama
• Sthāvara
• Mātṛs (Mothers/Mātṛkās)
• Mahādeva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Cosmic forces (grahas, nakṣatras) and all beings are shown as subordinate to Mahādeva; even fierce powers like the Mothers are integrated into divine governance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is specified; the verse emphasizes cosmic participation rather than a pilgrimage location.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the line about hunger characterizes the Mātṛs’ fierce nature, not a ritual instruction.