Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 67

Devanagari script

बर्बराकारकेशत्वाद्बर्बरीकाभिधो भवान् । भविष्यति महाबाहो कुलस्यानन्दवर्धनः

Transliteration

barbarākārakeśatvādbarbarīkābhidho bhavān | bhaviṣyati mahābāho kulasyānandavardhanaḥ

Translation

«ولأنَّ شَعرَكَ على هيئةٍ وحشيّةٍ خَشِنةٍ مُنتصبة، فستُعرَف باسمِ بَربَريكَة، يا عظيمَ الساعِدَين؛ وستزيدُ فرحَ سلالتِنا.»

Word by Word

• बर्बराकारकेशत्वात्: because of (your) barbar-like hair/appearance
• बर्बराकारकेशत्वात्: Hetu (Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक) + केश (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; समासबहुल (हेतौ पञ्चमी: ‘because of having barbar-like form/hair-ness’)

• बर्बरीकाभिधः: named Barbarīka
• बर्बरीकाभिधः: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (Predicate adjective of भवान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बर्बरीक (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बर्बरीक-नामाभिधः = ‘having the name Barbarīka’)

• भवान्: you
• भवान्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; आदरसूचक सर्वनाम (masc nom sg; honorific ‘you’)

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्काल), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (simple future, 3rd sg)

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• महाबाहो: Sambodhana (Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् बाहुः यस्य)

• कुलस्य: of the family
• कुलस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (neuter, genitive sg)

• आनन्दवर्धनः: increaser of joy
• आनन्दवर्धनः: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (Predicate noun of भवान्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आनन्दस्य वर्धनः = ‘increaser of joy’)

Speaker

Bhaimi (father) speaking to his son

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A proud elder blesses a young mighty-armed hero, pointing to his bristling hair as a sign, conferring the name Barbarīka and predicting lineage joy.

Characters & Entities

• Bhaimi
• Barbarīka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A name is not merely a label—it is a dharmic blessing and a statement of destiny tied to qualities and lineage.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Naming is performed by parental declaration; no detailed nāmakaraṇa ritual steps are given.