Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 54

Devanagari script

श्वेतोनाम मुनिश्चक्रे मुमुक्षुः परमं तपः । चिरकालं तपस्तस्मिन्प्रकुर्वति महामुनौ

Transliteration

śvetonāma muniścakre mumukṣuḥ paramaṃ tapaḥ | cirakālaṃ tapastasminprakurvati mahāmunau

Translation

Ein Weiser namens Śveta, nach Mokṣa verlangend, begann die höchste Askese. Lange Zeit setzte er diese Buße fort, dieser große Seher.

Word by Word

• श्वेतः: Śveta
• श्वेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śveta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — proper name

• नाम: named
• नाम: Sambandha (Appositive particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) — ‘by name/namely’

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Karta (Subject apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — apposition to श्वेतः

• चक्रे: performed
• चक्रे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदी — ‘did/performed’

• मुमुक्षुः: seeking liberation
• मुमुक्षुः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mumukṣu (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative adjective from √muc)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘desiring liberation’

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘supreme’ (qualifying तपः)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘austerity’

• चिरकालम्: for a long time
• चिरकालम्: Kāla-adhikarana (Temporal adjunct/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cira-kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण), कर्मधारय-समास — ‘for a long time’

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘austerity’

• तस्मिन्: in him; in that (sage)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — ‘in him/that (sage)’

• प्रकुर्वति: was performing
• प्रकुर्वति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — ‘does/performs’

• महामुनौ: in the great sage
• महामुनौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-muni (प्रातिपदिक; महा + मुनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — ‘in the great sage’

Speaker

Unknown (narratorial voice within Setu-khaṇḍa; likely Sūta-style narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Śveta-tapas-sthāna (within the āśrama narrative)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Sage Śveta, austere and luminous, performs prolonged penance—either standing on one leg, arms raised, or seated in deep meditation—amid a quiet hermitage with minimal possessions.

Characters & Entities

• Śveta (Ṛṣi)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Liberation is linked with sustained tapas and steadfast resolve, especially when pursued in a holy environment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse implies a sanctified āśrama setting but does not specify a named tīrtha in this line.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tapas is indicated in general terms; no specific vrata or rite is detailed.