Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

अन्यत्किञ्चिन्न जानामि एकं संमार्जनं विना । ऋषिस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मनसा च विमृश्य हि

Transliteration

anyatkiñcinna jānāmi ekaṃ saṃmārjanaṃ vinā | ṛṣistadvacanaṃ śrutvā manasā ca vimṛśya hi

Translation

„Ich weiß nichts anderes – außer dieser einen Handlung des Fegens.“ Als der Weise diese Worte hörte, erwog er sie in seinem Geist.

Word by Word

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• किञ्चित्: something, anything
• किञ्चित्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक-सर्वनाम (indefinite)

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

• जानामि: I know
• जानामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• एकम्: one, only
• एकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• संमार्जनम्: cleaning
• संमार्जनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संमार्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विना: without, except
• विना: Sambandha (Exclusion/वर्जन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय/पूर्वपद-निषेध (preposition-like indeclinable; takes accusative)

• ऋषिः: the sage
• ऋषिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वचनम्: statement, words
• वचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having heard)

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विमृश्य: having reflected
• विमृश्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + मृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having reflected/considered)

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

Speaker

Narrator (within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa Kedārakhaṇḍa); the quoted line is spoken by an unnamed devotee/character

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The lady declares her exclusive practice—only sweeping—while the sage turns inward, eyes half-closed, contemplating the profundity of her devotion; the temple lamp flickers in the background.

Characters & Entities

• Ṛṣi (sage)
• Śiva (implied via temple service)
• Kedāra (context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Single-minded devotion expressed through a simple act can carry profound spiritual weight, prompting even sages to contemplate its hidden merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra-kṣetra’s Śiva-temple milieu is implied, where seva like cleaning is treated as spiritually potent.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The verse highlights saṃmārjana as the central devotional practice—valued even when no other ritual knowledge is claimed.