Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मशापाभिभूतोऽसौ देवदेवस्त्रिलोचनः । तुष्टैस्तैस्तपसा युक्तैः पुनर्मोक्षं गमिष्यति

Transliteration

brahmaśāpābhibhūto'sau devadevastrilocanaḥ | tuṣṭaistaistapasā yuktaiḥ punarmokṣaṃ gamiṣyati

Translation

Jener Gott der Götter, der Dreiaugige, ist von Brahmās Fluch überwältigt. Doch wenn jene Askesen (tapas) rechtmäßig aufgenommen und vollendet werden, wird er erneut Befreiung erlangen.

Word by Word

• brahma-śāpa-abhibhūtaḥ: overpowered/afflicted by Brahmā’s curse
• brahma-śāpa-abhibhūtaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + śāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + abhibhūta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मशापेन अभिभूतः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (असौ/देवदेवः)

• asau: that one/he
• asau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• deva-devaḥ: God of gods
• deva-devaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (देवानां देवः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• tri-locanaḥ: the three-eyed one
• tri-locanaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (त्रीणि लोचनानि यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (देवदेवः)

• tuṣṭaiḥ: by/with the pleased (ones)
• tuṣṭaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tuṣ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (युक्तैः)

• taiḥ: by those
• taiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (युक्तैः)

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• yuktaiḥ: endowed/engaged
• yuktaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (तैः/tuṣṭaiḥ)

• punar: again
• punar: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = again

• mokṣam: liberation
• mokṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• gamiṣyati: will attain/go to
• gamiṣyati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्काल/Future), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Brahmā

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā-kṣetra (Narmadā tīrthas)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Bhārata/Janamejaya-address style appears in nearby verses; exact frame not explicit here

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A symbolic tableau: Śiva (three-eyed) under the shadow of a brahmic curse, yet surrounded by the radiance of tapas—fire of austerity, calm posture, and signs of impending release.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Śiva (Trilocana, Devadeva)
• Curse (śāpa)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A curse signifies karmic-dharmic consequence, but disciplined tapas and right observance restore auspiciousness and lead toward mokṣa.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Revā (Narmadā) milieu underlies the narrative, supporting a broader message of Śaiva sanctity rather than naming a single tīrtha in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tapas (austerity/penance) is presented as the remedial discipline, though the specific vrata or rite is not detailed in this line.