Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 177

Devanagari script

तान्महेशमुखान्सर्वान्महाकालो महामतिः । अर्चयामास बहुधा भक्त्युद्रेकातिपूरितः

Transliteration

tānmaheśamukhānsarvānmahākālo mahāmatiḥ | arcayāmāsa bahudhā bhaktyudrekātipūritaḥ

Translation

تب مہاکال، وہ عظیم خرد والا، مہیش اور دیگر سب کی طرح طرح سے پوجا کرنے لگا، بھکتی کے جوش سے لبریز ہو کر۔

Word by Word

• तान्: those (them)
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• महेशमुखान्: having Maheśa at the head (headed by Maheśa)
• महेशमुखान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेश + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—महेशः मुखं येषां ते (बहुव्रीहि-भावार्थे प्रयोगः, परन्तु रूपतः तत्पुरुष-निर्माण)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• महाकालः: Mahākāla
• महाकालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—महान् कालः (कर्मधारय)

• महामतिः: the great-minded one
• महामतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—महती मतिः यस्य सः (कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीहि-भावे विशेषण)

• अर्चयामास: worshipped
• अर्चयामास: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative-भाव (अर्चयति इति)

• बहुधा: in many ways
• बहुधा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'in many ways/many times')

• भक्त्युद्रेकातिपूरितः: filled with an excess surge of devotion
• भक्त्युद्रेकातिपूरितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति + उद्रेक + अति + पूरित (कृदन्त; √पॄ/पूर्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त—पूरित (क्त); समासः—भक्तेः उद्रेकः तस्य अति- (अत्यधिकता) तेन पूरितः (तत्पुरुष-समास-समूह)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Mahākāla, radiant and composed, performs elaborate worship to Maheśa and the assembled divinities—offering flowers, incense, lamps—while sages and celestial musicians look on.

Characters & Entities

• Mahākāla
• Maheśa (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion expresses itself through reverent worship; bhakti is portrayed as the force that sanctifies all actions.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Mahākāla’s sacred domain is implied; the verse reinforces the devotional culture centered on Mahākāla.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pūjā/arcana (worship) is highlighted broadly—honoring the divine in multiple modes with heartfelt devotion.