Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

ममैकं सुमहत्कार्यं कर्तुमर्हसि मन्मथ । महेश्वरं कृपानाथं सतीभार्यावियोजितम्

Transliteration

mamaikaṃ sumahatkāryaṃ kartumarhasi manmatha | maheśvaraṃ kṛpānāthaṃ satībhāryāviyojitam

Translation

আমার এক অতিমহৎ কার্য আছে, হে মন্মথ—তুমি তা সম্পন্ন করো। করুণানাথ মহেশ্বর সতি-পত্নী থেকে বিচ্ছিন্ন হয়েছেন।

Word by Word

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying कार्यम्)

• सुमहत्कार्यम्: a very great task
• सुमहत्कार्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + महत् + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सुमहत् कार्यम्)

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (infinitive)

• अर्हसि: you are fit/ought
• अर्हसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मन्मथ: O Manmatha (Kāma)
• मन्मथ: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्मथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• महेश्वरम्: Mahēśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्राय (महान् ईश्वरः)

• कृपानाथम्: lord of compassion
• कृपानाथम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृपा + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कृपायाः नाथः) विशेषण (qualifying महेश्वरम्)

• सतीभार्यावियोजितम्: separated from (his) wife Satī
• सतीभार्यावियोजितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सती + भार्या + वियोजित (प्रातिपदिक; वि+युज् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सत्याः भार्यायाः वियोजितः) विशेषण (qualifying महेश्वरम्)

Speaker

Indra (to Kāmadeva) (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra assigns Kāma a ‘great task’: to address Mahādeva’s state after separation from Satī; the emotional center is Śiva’s bereavement and the gods’ urgency.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Kāmadeva (Manmatha)
• Śiva (Maheśvara)
• Satī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Cosmic harmony is restored through dharmic cooperation—divine roles operate to re-establish auspicious order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is cited; the verse frames the Śaiva marital narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a mission statement within the story.