Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

संवर्त्ताग्निसमाटोपं जटामंडलशोभितम् । अक्षीणभालनयनं ज्वालाम्लानमुखत्विषम्

Transliteration

saṃvarttāgnisamāṭopaṃ jaṭāmaṃḍalaśobhitam | akṣīṇabhālanayanaṃ jvālāmlānamukhatviṣam

Translation

Er glich dem lodernden Feuer der Saṃvarta, dem Brand der kosmischen Auflösung, und war geschmückt mit einem Kranz aus verfilzten Locken. Das Auge auf seiner Stirn ermüdete nicht, und sein Antlitz leuchtete in flammenhaftem Glanz.

Word by Word

• संवर्त्ताग्निसमाटोपम्: having a blaze/uproar like the fire of cosmic dissolution
• संवर्त्ताग्निसमाटोपम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संवर्त-आग्नि-सम-आटोप (प्रातिपदिक; संवर्त + अग्नि + सम + आटोप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• जटामण्डलशोभितम्: adorned with a circle/mass of matted hair
• जटामण्डलशोभितम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा-मण्डल-शोभित (प्रातिपदिक; जटा + मण्डल + शोभित)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) from √शुभ्/√शोभ् ‘to shine/adorn’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अक्षीणभालनयनम्: with an unfailing (ever-open) forehead-eye
• अक्षीणभालनयनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-क्षीण-भाल-नयन (प्रातिपदिक; अ + क्षीण + भाल + नयन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ज्वालाम्लानमुखत्विषम्: whose face-luster is unfading like flame
• ज्वालाम्लानमुखत्विषम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वाला-अम्लान-मुख-त्विष् (प्रातिपदिक; ज्वाला + अम्लान + मुख + त्विष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narrator; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa in Brāhma Khaṇḍa framing)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva stands or sits in majestic stillness, yet his aura is like saṃvarta fire; a grand halo of matted locks frames his head; the third eye shines unblinking; his face glows with flame-like luster.

Characters & Entities

• Saṃvartāgni
• Jaṭā (Śiva’s matted locks)
• Bhālanayana (third eye of Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva embodies both awe-inspiring dissolution and protective sovereignty—his ‘third eye’ signifies transcendent knowledge and power.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the focus is on Rudra’s cosmic iconography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a visionary description meant to inspire reverence and contemplation.