Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 85

Devanagari script

दिशं कर्णौ पिधायापि निर्घोषं शृणुयान्न च । न स जीवेत्तथा स्वप्ने पति तस्य पिधीयते

Transliteration

diśaṃ karṇau pidhāyāpi nirghoṣaṃ śṛṇuyānna ca | na sa jīvettathā svapne pati tasya pidhīyate

Translation

Selbst wenn er die Ohren zuhält, wenn er dennoch keinen Laut vernimmt, wird er nicht am Leben bleiben. Ebenso, wenn im Traum sein Herr/Gatte gleichsam verschlossen oder abgeschnitten wird, ist auch dies ein Todesomen.

Word by Word

• दिशम्: direction/side
• दिशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कर्णौ: (his) two ears
• कर्णौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• पिधाय: having covered
• पिधाय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पि+धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), 'having covered/closed'

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (particle: 'even/also')

• निर्घोषम्: loud noise/roar
• निर्घोषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शृणुयात्: should hear
• शृणुयात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction 'and')

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जीवेत्: would live/survive
• जीवेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb: 'thus/in that way')

• स्वप्ने: in a dream
• स्वप्ने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पतिः: lord/master (protector)
• पतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पिधीयते: is closed/covered (is shut off)
• पिधीयते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पि+धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: 'is closed/covered')

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) addressing the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A person covers his ears yet perceives no sound; beside him a dream-vision shows the ‘lord/husband’ figure being shut behind a closing door or veil, symbolizing severance.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Loss of faculties and ominous dream-symbols are treated as reminders to turn inward, complete duties, and seek spiritual refuge.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific sacred geography appears in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it focuses on sensory and dream omens.