Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

श्रीमाता मदारिकायां शांता नंदापुरे वरे । रक्षार्थं द्विजमुख्यानां चतुर्दिक्षु स्थिताश्च ताः

Transliteration

śrīmātā madārikāyāṃ śāṃtā naṃdāpure vare | rakṣārthaṃ dvijamukhyānāṃ caturdikṣu sthitāśca tāḥ

Translation

圣母（Śrīmātā）住于摩达利迦（Madārikā），寂安女神（Śāntā）住于殊胜的难陀城（Nandāpura）。为护持最尊贵的婆罗门，她们分守四方而立。

Word by Word

• श्रीमाता: Śrīmātā (name/title: revered mother)
• श्रीमाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीमाता (प्रातिपदिक; श्री + माता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मदारिकायाम्: in Madārikā
• मदारिकायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदारिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शांता: Śāntā (name)
• शांता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नन्दापुरे: in Nandāpura
• नन्दापुरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दापुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• वरे: excellent, best
• वरे: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• रक्षार्थम्: for protection
• रक्षार्थम्: Kriya-artha (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षार्थ (प्रातिपदिक; रक्षा + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (for the sake of protection)

• द्विजमुख्यानाम्: of the foremost twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजमुख्यानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजमुख्य (प्रातिपदिक; द्विज + मुख्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• चतुर्दिक्षु: in the four directions
• चतुर्दिक्षु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दिश् (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर् + दिश्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• स्थिताः: standing/placed
• स्थिताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

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

• ताः: those (goddesses/powers)
• ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Vyāsa

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Madārikā-Śrīmātā-sthāna; Nandāpura-Śāntā-sthāna (within Dharmāraṇya)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Yudhiṣṭhira

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two goddess-shrines are named: Śrīmātā at Madārikā and Śāntā at Nandāpura; the narrative expands to a four-directional protective array of Śaktis guarding Brahmin sages and ritualists in the forest-kṣetra.

Characters & Entities

• Śrīmātā
• Śāntā
• Madārikā
• Nandāpura
• Dvija

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Purāṇa frames the holy region as a mandala of protection, where named goddess-powers guard devotees and uphold sacred order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya’s Śakti-sthānas, specifically Madārikā and Nandāpura, are highlighted as protective centers.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is given; the verse identifies shrine-locations and their protective function in the four directions.