Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 111

Devanagari script

शेषावतारोऽपि महांस्तपः परमदुष्करम् । तताप परया शक्त्या देवानां कार्यसिद्धये

Transliteration

śeṣāvatāro'pi mahāṃstapaḥ paramaduṣkaram | tatāpa parayā śaktyā devānāṃ kāryasiddhaye

Translation

Selbst die große Inkarnation Śeṣas übte mit höchster Kraft eine überaus schwer zu vollziehende Askese, um das Werk der Götter zu erfüllen.

Word by Word

• śeṣa-avatāraḥ: incarnation of Śeṣa
• śeṣa-avatāraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शेषस्य अवतारः) (Nominative singular)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थक-निपातः (particle: also/even)

• mahān: great
• mahān: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Nominative singular masculine)

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• parama-duṣkaram: most difficult
• parama-duṣkaram: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama + duṣkara (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (Accusative singular neuter)

• tatāpa: performed (austerity)
• tatāpa: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (तप् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (he performed austerity/heated)

• parayā: with supreme
• parayā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Instrumental singular feminine)

• śaktyā: power/energy
• śaktyā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular)

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (Genitive plural)

• kārya-siddhaye: for the accomplishment of the task
• kārya-siddhaye: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya + siddhi (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (Dative singular)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced for Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis (frame implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A majestic ascetic figure bearing the aura of Ananta/Śeṣa—serpentine symbolism subtly present—performing fierce austerity amid Himalayan stillness, radiating controlled power.

Characters & Entities

• Śeṣa (Ananta)
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Greatness is shown through disciplined effort undertaken for the welfare of the cosmic order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedāra-khaṇḍa context frames these acts as part of Kedāra’s sacred narrative environment.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tapas (austerity) is emphasized; no specific vrata or procedure is detailed.