Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

त्यागो विण्मूत्रशुक्राणां गर्भविस्रवणं तथा । अपानकर्म निर्दिष्टं स्थानमस्य गुदोपरि

Transliteration

tyāgo viṇmūtraśukrāṇāṃ garbhavisravaṇaṃ tathā | apānakarma nirdiṣṭaṃ sthānamasya gudopari

Translation

طرحُ الغائطِ والبولِ والمنيِّ، وكذلك السيلانُ المتعلّقُ بالحمل—هذا مُعيَّنٌ بوصفه عملَ الأپانا (Apāna)، ومقرُّه فوقَ الشرج.

Word by Word

• tyāgaḥ: expulsion, discharge
• tyāgaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tyāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• viṭ-mūtra-śukrāṇām: of feces, urine, and semen
• viṭ-mūtra-śukrāṇām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṭ (प्रातिपदिक) + mūtra (प्रातिपदिक) + śukra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)

• garbha-visravaṇam: discharge of the fetus (miscarriage/flow)
• garbha-visravaṇam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक) + visravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (garbhasya visravaṇam)

• tathā: and likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपपद (conjunctive adverb: “also/and likewise”)

• apāna-karmā: function of apāna (downward vital air)
• apāna-karmā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apāna (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (apānasya karma)

• nirdiṣṭam: is specified
• nirdiṣṭam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-√diś (दिश् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; “specified/declared”

• sthānam: location, seat
• sthānam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• asya: of it (of apāna)
• asya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• guda-upari: above the anus
• guda-upari: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: guda (प्रातिपदिक) + upari (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययार्थे (locative sense): “above the anus”

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced for Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A yogin seated in padmāsana, subtle red downward-flowing current labeled ‘Apāna’ descending to the pelvic region; schematic lotus/nāḍī map with the seat just above the anus indicated, rendered with restraint and didactic clarity.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even bodily eliminations are governed by cosmic order; honoring that order encourages cleanliness, restraint, and steadiness in practice.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is referenced in this verse; it is a functional description of apāna.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct rite is prescribed; the teaching supports śauca (purity) and disciplined living as part of dharma.