Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

आवाह्य द्विजमुख्येषु देवदेवं सदाशिवम् । पत्नीष्वावाहयामास सा देवीं जगदंबिकाम्

Transliteration

āvāhya dvijamukhyeṣu devadevaṃ sadāśivam | patnīṣvāvāhayāmāsa sā devīṃ jagadaṃbikām

Translation

她先在最尊贵的婆罗门身中奉请万神之神常住吉祥的萨达湿婆；又在其妻子身中奉请女神阇伽达安比迦——世界之母。

Word by Word

• आवाह्य: having invoked
• आवाह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-वाह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• द्विजमुख्येषु: among the chief Brahmins
• द्विजमुख्येषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/recipient locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; ‘द्विजानां मुख्येषु’ (among the chief Brahmins)

• देवदेवम्: the god of gods
• देवदेवम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘देवानां देवम्’

• सदाशिवम्: Sadāśiva
• सदाशिवम्: Karma (Appositive to देवदेवम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदा + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘सदा शिवः’ (ever-auspicious)

• पत्नीषु: in/among the wives
• पत्नीषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• आवाहयामास: caused to be invoked / invoked
• आवाहयामास: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-वाह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative stem: आवाहय-)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• जगदंबिकाम्: Jagadambikā (Mother of the world)
• जगदंबिकाम्: Karma (Appositive to देवीम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘जगतः अम्बिका’

Speaker

Narrator

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The queen performs āvāhana: gestures of invitation (mudrā) and offering; a subtle radiance descends—Sadāśiva’s presence into the brāhmaṇas, Jagadambikā’s presence into their wives—forming living icons of Śiva–Śakti.

Characters & Entities

• Sadāśiva
• Jagadambikā
• dvijamukhya (chief brāhmaṇas)
• patnī (wives)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva and Śakti are honored through dharmic channels—seeing the divine presence in revered guests and worshipping with inner devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse emphasizes ritual theology (āvāhana) rather than sacred geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Avāhana/installation: invoking Sadāśiva into brāhmaṇas and Jagadambikā into their wives as part of worship.