Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 16
Devanagari script
कुटीमात्रोऽपि यच्छाया तृणैः शिरसि पाणिगैः
Transliteration
kuṭīmātro'pi yacchāyā tṛṇaiḥ śirasi pāṇigaiḥ
Translation
Selbst ein Schatten, kaum größer als eine kleine Hütte—aus Gras gemacht und mit den eigenen Händen über dem Kopf gehalten—gilt als ausreichend.
Word by Word
कुटीमात्रः(one that is) only a hut-sized / mere hut
कुटीमात्रः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootकुटी (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (कुट्याः मात्रः = hut-only/just a hut)
अपिeven/also
अपि:
Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (particle), concessive/emphatic
यत्which/whose
यत्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे (relative)
छायाshade/shadow
छाया:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootछाया (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
तृणैःwith grasses/straw
तृणैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootतृण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन
शिरसिon the head
शिरसि:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootशिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन
पाणिगैःwith hands (handfuls)
पाणिगैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootपाणिग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन
Speaker
Lomaśa (contextual continuation of the dialogue)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A lone pilgrim/ṛṣi stands under a tiny makeshift shade—grass held above the head by the hands—signifying contentment with the bare minimum.
FAQs
Contentment with the bare minimum supports detachment and steadiness in dharma.
None is specified; the verse focuses on ascetic conduct rather than a location-māhātmya.
No formal rite; it points to practical austerity (tapas) through minimal comforts.