Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 5
Devanagari script
अभावे तु सहस्रस्य बाह्वोः षोडश षोडश । एकं शिखायां करयोर्द्वादश द्वादशैव हि
Transliteration
abhāve tu sahasrasya bāhvoḥ ṣoḍaśa ṣoḍaśa | ekaṃ śikhāyāṃ karayordvādaśa dvādaśaiva hi
Translation
সহস্র রুদ্রাক্ষ না মিলিলে, দুই বাহুতে ষোলো‑ষোলো ধারণ করিবে। শিখায় একটিমাত্র, আর দুই হাতে বারো‑বারোই ধারণ করিবে।
Word by Word
अभावेin the absence
अभावे:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootअभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्; 'अभावे' = अभाव-स्थितौ
तुbut/indeed
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formनिपातः (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक
सहस्रस्यof a thousand
सहस्रस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootसहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्
बाह्वोःon the two arms
बाह्वोः:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootबाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचनम्; अत्र 'बाह्वोः' = बाह्वोः (on the two arms)
षोडशsixteen
षोडश:
Vishesana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootषोडश (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
Formसंख्यावाचकः, अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; 'षोडश' = sixteen (count)
षोडशsixteen (each)
षोडश:
Vishesana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootषोडश (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
Formसंख्यावाचकः, पुनरुक्त्या वितरणार्थः (each)
एकम्one
एकम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootएक (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; गणनावाचक
शिखायाम्on the topknot
शिखायाम्:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootशिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्
करयोःon the two hands
करयोः:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootकर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचनम्; अत्र 'करयोः' = on the two hands
द्वादशtwelve
द्वादश:
Vishesana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootद्वादश (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
Formसंख्यावाचकः, अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः
द्वादशtwelve (each)
द्वादश:
Vishesana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootद्वादश (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
Formसंख्यावाचकः, पुनरुक्त्या वितरणार्थः (each)
एवindeed/only
एव:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formनिपातः (particle), अवधारणार्थक (emphasis)
हिfor/indeed
हि:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपातः (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक
Speaker
Sūta (continued narration)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A calm ascetic or householder devotee arranging rudrākṣa strands on arms, hands, and śikhā, seated near a small liṅga; emphasis on measured counts and ritual order.
Characters & Entities
R
RudrākṣaFAQs
Dharma is made practicable: when the ideal quantity is not possible, an alternative, structured observance is provided.
No holy place is referenced; the verse is a practical instruction for Rudrākṣa dhāraṇa.
A fallback count and placement of Rudrākṣas on arms, śikhā, and hands.