Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

जटाभिरतिताम्राभिस्तीर्थस्नानविशुद्धिभिः । न्यस्तरुद्राक्षमणिभिर्ज्वालाभिरिव पावकम्

Transliteration

jaṭābhiratitāmrābhistīrthasnānaviśuddhibhiḥ | nyastarudrākṣamaṇibhirjvālābhiriva pāvakam

Translation

Mit seinen jaṭā von tief kupferroter Farbe, gereinigt durch das Bad an heiligen tīrtha, und mit aufgelegten Rudrākṣa-Perlen, leuchtete er wie Feuer, von Flammen umkränzt.

Word by Word

• जटाभिः: with matted locks
• जटाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अतिताम्राभिः: very copper-reddish
• अतिताम्राभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying जटाभिः); समासः—कर्मधारय (अतिताम्राः)

• तीर्थस्नानविशुद्धिभिः: by purifications from bathing at holy places
• तीर्थस्नानविशुद्धिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + विशुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तीर्थस्नानेन विशुद्धिः)

• न्यस्त: placed/laid
• न्यस्त: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√अस्/न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासाङ्ग

• रुद्राक्ष: rudrākṣa beads
• रुद्राक्ष: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• मणिभिः: with gems/beads
• मणिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• ज्वालाभिः: with flames
• ज्वालाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• इव: like/as if
• इव: Sambandha (Comparative marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• पावकम्: fire
• पावकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपमेय (object of comparison)

Speaker

Brahmā (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Unnamed tīrtha(s) of Aruṇācala region (implied)

Type: tirtha

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: null

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Gautama’s copper-hued matted locks, cleansed by sacred bathing, and rudrākṣa beads blaze; he appears like fire encircled by flames.

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Tīrtha (sacred ford)
• Rudrākṣa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purity gained through tīrtha-snāna and Śaiva markers like rudrākṣa illuminate the ascetic’s life, symbolizing inner tapas and devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

While Aruṇācala Māhātmya is the narrative frame, the verse generally praises tīrthas (sacred bathing places) as purifiers.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tīrtha-snāna (bathing at sacred places) and wearing rudrākṣa beads are indicated as Śaiva-purificatory and devotional practices.