Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 54

Devanagari script

पापोपहतबुद्धीनां शिवे वार्तापि दुर्लभा । दुर्लभं भारते जन्म दुर्लभं शिवपूजनम्

Transliteration

pāpopahatabuddhīnāṃ śive vārtāpi durlabhā | durlabhaṃ bhārate janma durlabhaṃ śivapūjanam

Translation

Für jene, deren Verstand durch Sünde verwundet ist, ist selbst ein einziges Wort über Śiva schwer zu erlangen. Selten ist die Geburt in Bhārata, und selten ebenso die Verehrung Śivas.

Word by Word

• पापोपहतबुद्धीनाम्: of those whose intellect is struck by sin
• पापोपहतबुद्धीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप-उपहत-बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शिवे: about/in Śiva
• शिवे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वार्ता: talk, discourse
• वार्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: 'even')

• दुर्लभा: rare, hard to obtain
• दुर्लभा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• दुर्लभम्: rare
• दुर्लभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• भारते: in Bhārata (India)
• भारते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• जन्म: birth
• जन्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दुर्लभम्: rare
• दुर्लभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• शिवपूजनम्: worship of Śiva
• शिवपूजनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), deduced for Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narration

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Bhārata-varṣa (as dharma-kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two contrasted figures: one with a darkened, confused gaze (pāpa-opahata buddhi) turning away from a Śiva discourse; another attentive devotee in Bhārata receiving Śiva-kathā near a temple, emphasizing rarity and choice.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Bhārata

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sin clouds discernment; therefore even access to Śiva-kathā and Śiva-pūjā is rare—one should value and pursue devotion while human life lasts.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is specified; the verse broadly praises Bhārata as a spiritually privileged land enabling Śiva-worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Śiva-pūjana (worship of Śiva) is highlighted as a rare and precious practice.