Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 73

Devanagari script

अन्यत्कार्मुकादाय वेगवद्भारसाधनम् । शरांश्चाशीविषाकारांस्तैलधौताजिह्मगान्

Transliteration

anyatkārmukādāya vegavadbhārasādhanam | śarāṃścāśīviṣākārāṃstailadhautājihmagān

Translation

Er nahm einen anderen Bogen — schnell und geeignet, einen schweren Zug zu tragen — und dazu Pfeile, die giftigen Schlangen glichen, mit Öl geglättet und gerade fliegend.

Word by Word

• अन्यत्: another
• अन्यत्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• कार्मुकम्: bow
• कार्मुकम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having taken’

• वेगवत्: swift/impetuous
• वेगवत्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with भारसाधनम्)

• भारसाधनम्: a heavy implement (bow)
• भारसाधनम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—भारस्य साधनम् (means/implement for bearing/weighty implement)

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• आशीविषाकारान्: having the form of venomous snakes
• आशीविषाकारान्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशीविष + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—आशीविषस्य आकारः येषाम् (snake-shaped)

• तैलधौत: oil-polished
• तैलधौत: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तैल + धौत (धाव्/धौ (धातु) → क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (as part of compound with अजिह्मगान्); तत्पुरुषः—तैलेन धौताः (oil-polished)

• अजिह्मगान्: straight (not crooked)
• अजिह्मगान्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + जिह्म + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—ये न जिह्मगाः (not crooked-going; straight)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (Mahēśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Jambha discards the shattered bow and swiftly lifts a heavier, powerful bow; he draws forth a quiver of serpent-like arrows—sleek, oil-polished, gleaming—suggesting lethal speed and poison-like dread.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Preparedness and adaptability—taking new means when the old is lost—are presented as qualities of determined action.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.