Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

एवमभ्यर्थिता तेन बहुधा शूलपाणिना । प्रहस्य गिरिजा प्राह उपहासपरं वच

Transliteration

evamabhyarthitā tena bahudhā śūlapāṇinā | prahasya girijā prāha upahāsaparaṃ vaca

Translation

So, wieder und wieder von dem Dreizackträger gebeten, lächelte Girijā und sprach Worte, die von spielerischem Spott durchzogen waren.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• अभ्यर्थिता: having been entreated
• अभ्यर्थिता: Karta (Subject; she as one who was requested)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्थ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘प्रार्थिता/याचिता’

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Kartā (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• बहुधा: in many ways / repeatedly
• बहुधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शूलपाणिना: by the trident-bearer
• शूलपाणिना: Kartā (Agent; apposition to तेन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शूलः पाणौ यस्य/शूलपाणिः = trident-in-hand, epithet of Śiva)

• प्रहस्य: having laughed
• प्रहस्य: Kriyā (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + हस् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having laughed)

• गिरिजा: Girijā (Pārvatī)
• गिरिजा: Kartā (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गिरेः जा = mountain-born, Pārvatī)

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उपहासपरम्: mocking / derisive
• उपहासपरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of vacaḥ/vaca)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपहास + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (उपहासे परम् = inclined to mockery)

• वच: words/speech
• वच: Karma (Object; what was said)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्/वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; (पाठे ‘वच’ = ‘वचः’ का संक्षिप्त/छन्दोऽनुरूप रूप)

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa tradition within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedāranātha

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrim-audience / ṛṣi interlocutors (implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva repeatedly entreats; Pārvatī laughs softly and replies with gentle mockery—an affectionate, teasing exchange set against a sacred Himalayan atmosphere.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Śūlapāṇi)
• Pārvatī (Girijā)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even in divine play (līlā), the Gods teach through affectionate dialogue and subtle instruction.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra is the overarching sacred landscape in which this divine exchange is situated.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is specified; the verse functions as narrative transition within the māhātmya.