Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 75

Devanagari script

वृथा त्वयाथ दग्धोऽसौ मदनो हि महाप्रभः

Transliteration

vṛthā tvayātha dagdho'sau madano hi mahāprabhaḥ

Translation

„O mächtiger Herr, der ruhmreiche Madana ist von dir vergeblich verbrannt worden.“

Word by Word

• वृथा: in vain, uselessly
• वृथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (सर्वनाम), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• अथ: then, now
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (सम्बन्ध/अनन्तरता सूचक particle: then/now)

• दग्धः: burnt
• दग्धः: Kriyā (Predicate participle/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु) → दग्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• असौ: that (one), he
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मदनः: Madana (Kāma), the god of love
• मदनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle: indeed/for)

• महाप्रभः: the greatly powerful one
• महाप्रभः: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Devas

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedāranātha

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śiva (Śambhu/Mahādeva)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Devas or divine attendants address Śiva after the burning of Madana; Śiva stands in ascetic radiance, the memory of the third-eye flame lingering; a subdued, pleading atmosphere.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Śiva
• Kāmadeva (Madana)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Cosmic actions have consequences; even divine power is urged to align with dharma and the welfare of the worlds.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Implicitly the Kedāra region (Kedārakhaṇḍa), where Śiva’s supremacy is celebrated.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a lament and petition within the narrative.