Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

ग्रीवा महश्चवदनं जनलोकः प्रकीर्त्यते । ललाटं च तपोलोकः शीर्ष सत्यमुदाहृतम्

Transliteration

grīvā mahaścavadanaṃ janalokaḥ prakīrtyate | lalāṭaṃ ca tapolokaḥ śīrṣa satyamudāhṛtam

Translation

祂的颈为摩诃罗界（Maharloka）；祂的面为阇那界（Janaloka）。祂的额为苦行界（Tapoloka），而祂的首被称为真实界（Satyaloka）。

Word by Word

• grīvā: neck
• grīvā: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grīvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• mahaḥ: Maharloka / great (world)
• mahaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

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

• vadanam: face/mouth
• vadanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• janalokaḥ: Janaloka
• janalokaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—जन + लोकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• prakīrtyate: is proclaimed/declared
• prakīrtyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kīrt (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्गः—प्र

• lalāṭam: forehead
• lalāṭam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lalāṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

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

• tapolokaḥ: Tapoloka
• tapolokaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapoloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—तपस् + लोकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• śīrṣa: head
• śīrṣa: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śīrṣan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन (प्रयोगः—शीर্ষ)

• satyam: Satyaloka / truth (world)
• satyam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• udāhṛtam: is stated/said
• udāhṛtam: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āhṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपसर्गः—उद् + आ; (अर्थे—‘उदाहृतम्’ = ‘कथितम्’)

Speaker

Devas (collective stuti)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close focus on Virāṭ’s head and upper torso: neck labeled Maharloka, face Janaloka, forehead Tapoloka, crown/head Satyaloka; aura intensifies upward.

Characters & Entities

• Maharloka
• Janaloka
• Tapoloka
• Satyaloka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The highest worlds are not separate from divinity; they are expressions of the supreme cosmic person, inspiring aspiration toward purity and truth.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse concerns higher lokas (planes of existence), not a named pilgrimage place.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.