Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

रत्याः प्रलापमाकर्ण्य देवदेवो वृषध्वजः । कृपया परया प्राह कामपत्नीं निरीक्ष्य च

Transliteration

ratyāḥ pralāpamākarṇya devadevo vṛṣadhvajaḥ | kṛpayā parayā prāha kāmapatnīṃ nirīkṣya ca

Translation

Als der Gott der Götter, der Herr mit dem Stierbanner (Śiva), Ratis Klage vernahm, blickte er auf Kāmas Gemahlin und sprach mit höchstem Mitgefühl.

Word by Word

• रत्याः: of Rati
• रत्याः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• प्रलापम्: lamentation
• प्रलापम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + कर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), अर्थे—श्रुत्वा (having heard)

• देवदेवः: the god of gods
• देवदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवदेव (प्रातिपदिक: देव + देव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां देवः)

• वृषध्वजः: he whose banner bears a bull (Śiva)
• वृषध्वजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषध्वज (प्रातिपदिक: वृष + ध्वज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्य ध्वजे वृषः सः)

• कृपया: out of compassion
• कृपया: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• परया: supreme/great
• परया: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (कृपया)

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कामपत्नीम्: Kāma’s wife (Rati)
• कामपत्नीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामपत्नी (प्रातिपदिक: काम + पत्नी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कामस्य पत्नी)

• निरीक्ष्य: having looked at
• निरीक्ष्य: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• च: and
• च: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating; Śiva is about to speak

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva with bull-banner, serene yet powerful, turns toward tearful Rati; his eyes soften; his hand lifts in reassurance (abhaya/varada), signaling compassion before speech.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Vṛṣadhvaja)
• Rati
• Kāma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva embodies both justice and mercy; even after destruction, divine compassion restores balance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it introduces Śiva’s consoling instruction.