Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 88

Devanagari script

भस्मी जटी त्रिनेत्री च त्रिशूली च चतुर्भुजः । व्याघ्रचर्मोत्तरीयश्च नागयज्ञोपवीतकः

Transliteration

bhasmī jaṭī trinetrī ca triśūlī ca caturbhujaḥ | vyāghracarmottarīyaśca nāgayajñopavītakaḥ

Translation

(Möge ich werden) mit heiliger Asche bestrichen, mit verfilzten Haaren und drei Augen; den Dreizack tragend, vierarmig; mit Tigerfell als Obergewand und mit einer Schlange als Opferfaden (yajñopavīta).

Word by Word

• भस्मी: smeared with ash
• भस्मी: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject complement/कर्तृसमनाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भस्मयुक्तः)

• जटी: matted-haired
• जटी: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject complement/कर्तृसमनाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• त्रिनेत्री: three-eyed
• त्रिनेत्री: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject complement/कर्तृसमनाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि-नेत्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि नेत्राणि यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• त्रिशूली: bearing a trident
• त्रिशूली: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject complement/कर्तृसमनाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि-शूलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (त्रिशूलधारी); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चतुर्भुजः: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject complement/कर्तृसमनाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्-भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (चत्वारो भुजाः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• व्याघ्रचर्मोत्तरीयः: wearing a tiger-skin as upper garment
• व्याघ्रचर्मोत्तरीयः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject complement/कर्तृसमनाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याघ्र-चर्म-उत्तरीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (व्याघ्रचर्म उत्तरीयम् यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नागयज्ञोपवीतकः: having a serpent as sacred thread
• नागयज्ञोपवीतकः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject complement/कर्तृसमनाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाग-यज्ञोपवीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नागः यज्ञोपवीतं यस्य/नागयज्ञोपवीतधारी); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Andhaka (continuing his boon specification)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Maheśvara (Śiva)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vivid ‘wish-list’ of Śiva’s form: ash-smeared ascetic with matted locks, three eyes, trident, four arms, tiger-skin garment, serpent sacred thread—an iconographic montage.

Characters & Entities

• Andhaka
• Śiva
• Trident (Triśūla)
• Bhasma
• Nāga (serpent)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Outer marks symbolize inner transformation—renunciation (bhasma), awakened vision (third eye), and steadfast power (triśūla) directed toward dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is identified in this verse; it focuses on Śaiva form and attributes within the Revā Khaṇḍa narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit prescription; it references Śaiva emblems (bhasma, yajñopavīta symbolism) commonly associated with worship and ascetic observance.