Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

पद्मत्रयं तथाभ्यर्च्य मध्ये मंडलमादरात् । वामां ज्येष्ठां च रौद्रीं च भागाद्यैर्दिक्षु पूजयेत्

Transliteration

padmatrayaṃ tathābhyarcya madhye maṃḍalamādarāt | vāmāṃ jyeṣṭhāṃ ca raudrīṃ ca bhāgādyairdikṣu pūjayet

Translation

如是礼敬三莲之后，当恭敬礼拜中央之曼荼罗（maṇḍala）。于诸方位，当以从“婆伽”（Bhāga）起之分段为标识，供奉瓦玛（Vāmā）、耶湿吒（Jyeṣṭhā）与柔陀梨（Raudrī）。

Word by Word

• पद्म-त्रयम्: the three lotuses
• पद्म-त्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; ‘त्रीणि पद्मानि’ (collective)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/in that manner)

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): ‘अभ्यर्च्य’ = having worshipped

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• मण्डलम्: the circle/maṇḍala
• मण्डलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), एकवचन

• आदरात्: with reverence
• आदरात्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषणवत् (ablatival adverb): ‘आदरेण/सादरम्’

• वामाम्: Vāmā
• वामाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; देवीनाम् नाम (proper noun)

• ज्येष्ठाम्: Jyeṣṭhā
• ज्येष्ठाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; देवीनाम् नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• रौद्रीम्: Raudrī
• रौद्रीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौद्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Object), एकवचन; देवीनाम् नाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• भाग-आद्यैः: by (their) portions etc.
• भाग-आद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘भागाद्यैः’ = portions etc. (as per divisions)

• दिक्षु: in the directions
• दिक्षु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), बहुवचन

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Narratorial/Instructional voice (śakti worship within maṇḍala)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A priest worships three superimposed lotuses; at the bindu a bright central maṇḍala; in the four quarters stand feminine forms—Vāmā (gentle), Jyeṣṭhā (elder/authoritative), Raudrī (fierce)—each at a directional segment marked by bhāga divisions.

Characters & Entities

• Vāmā
• Jyeṣṭhā
• Raudrī
• Bhāga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva-worship is completed through honoring Śakti-forms in the directions, revealing the unity of power and consciousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse is a ritual prescription for maṇḍala-based worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

After worshipping three lotuses, worship the central maṇḍala and then worship Vāmā, Jyeṣṭhā, and Raudrī in the directions with prescribed divisions (bhāga-ādi).