Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

त्वक्संस्थो भ्राजको देहं भ्राजयेन्निर्मलीकृतः । क्लेदको बोधकश्चैव तर्पणः श्लेष्मणस्तथा

Transliteration

tvaksaṃstho bhrājako dehaṃ bhrājayennirmalīkṛtaḥ | kledako bodhakaścaiva tarpaṇaḥ śleṣmaṇastathā

Translation

Bhrājaka, in der Haut sitzend, lässt den Leib strahlen, geläutert und rein. Ebenso werden Kledaka, Bodhaka und Tarpaṇa als Formen von Kapha (śleṣman) gelehrt.

Word by Word

• tvak-saṃsthaḥ: situated in the skin
• tvak-saṃsthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tvac + saṃstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (त्वचि संस्थः)

• bhrājakaḥ: the illuminator (bhrājaka)
• bhrājakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrājaka (कृदन्त; √bhrāj धातु)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि-ण्वुल् प्रत्ययान्त

• deham: the body
• deham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• bhrājayet: should make shine/illuminate
• bhrājayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhrāj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative: ‘cause to shine’)

• nirmalī-kṛtaḥ: having been purified/clarified
• nirmalī-kṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirmalī + √kṛ (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-पूर्वपद (निर्मली = निर्मलं कृत्वा) + क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• kledakaḥ: the moistener (kledaka)
• kledakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kledaka (कृदन्त; √klid धातु)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि-ण्वुल् प्रत्ययान्त

• bodhakaḥ: the awakener/knower (bodhaka)
• bodhakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bodhaka (कृदन्त; √budh धातु)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि-ण्वुल् प्रत्ययान्त

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle of emphasis)

• tarpaṇaḥ: the nourisher/satiator (tarpaṇa)
• tarpaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tarpaṇa (कृदन्त; √tṛp धातु)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि-ण्वुल्/ल्युट्-भावे (here agentive usage)

• śleṣmaṇaḥ: of phlegm (kapha)
• śleṣmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śleṣman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced for Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Personified principles: Bhrājaka shining on the skin like a golden sheen; Kledaka, Bodhaka, Tarpaṇa as cool, white, nourishing currents of śleṣman supporting moisture, taste, and satisfaction.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purity and radiance arise from balanced inner forces; bodily harmony supports dharma, worship, and the steadiness needed for spiritual pursuit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is prescribed; the teaching encourages cleanliness and balance (śauca and moderation).