Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 149

Devanagari script

धनुष्यजय्ये विनियोज्य बुद्धिमान्न्ययोजयत्तत्र अघोरमंत्रम्

Transliteration

dhanuṣyajayye viniyojya buddhimānnyayojayattatra aghoramaṃtram

Translation

Indem der Weise seinen gesammelten Geist auf den Bogen und den siegreichen Schuss richtete, legte er dort das Aghora-Mantra an.

Word by Word

• धनुष्यजय्ये: in (the use of) the bow / in archery
• धनुष्यजय्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुष्य-जय्य (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (धनुषः जय्ये = धनुषि/धनुर्विद्यायाम्)

• विनियोज्य: having applied/engaged
• विनियोज्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि-नि-युज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• बुद्धिमान्: the intelligent one
• बुद्धिमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि-मत् (प्रातिपदिक; मतुप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गुणवाचक-नाम (possessive adjective used substantively)

• न्ययोजयत्: he employed/placed
• न्ययोजयत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-युज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense (णिच्) implied: ‘caused to be employed/placed’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• अघोरमन्त्रम्: the Aghora mantra
• अघोरमन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघोर-मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अघोरस्य मन्त्रः)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages (contextual attribution for Māheśvarakhaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra stands poised, breath steady, eyes fixed; he aligns the bow and silently ‘places’ the Aghora mantra into the arrow as if sealing it with light.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (implied)
• Aghora mantra (Śaiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual power is not random: mantra requires correct application (viniyoga) with steady mind and disciplined intent.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse is about mantra-deployment in battle.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Mantra-viniyoga: employing the Aghora mantra in connection with the bow/weapon before its use.