Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

अहिर्बुध्न्यस्तथा षष्ठः पिनाकी सप्तमस्तथा । परं तपस्तथान्यस्तु दहनो नवमस्तथा

Transliteration

ahirbudhnyastathā ṣaṣṭhaḥ pinākī saptamastathā | paraṃ tapastathānyastu dahano navamastathā

Translation

„Der sechste ist Ahirbudhnya; der siebte Pinākī. Ein weiterer heißt Paraṃtapas, und der neunte ist Dahana.“

Word by Word

• ahir-budhnyaḥ: Ahirbudhnya
• ahir-budhnyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahi (प्रातिपदिक) + budhnya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (name: Ahirbudhnya)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थक (likewise/also)

• ṣaṣṭhaḥ: the sixth
• ṣaṣṭhaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक

• pinākī: Pinākī
• pinākī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pinākin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम (one who has Pināka bow)

• saptamaḥ: the seventh
• saptamaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (also)

• param: supreme
• param: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• tapaḥ: Tapas (a name: austerity)
• tapaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (also)

• anyaḥ: another
• anyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषार्थक (indeed)

• dahanaḥ: Dahana
• dahanaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dahana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम (fire)

• navamaḥ: the ninth
• navamaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: navama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (also)

Speaker

Sūta

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A symbolic tableau: four Rudra-aspects suggested behind the recitation—serpent/abyss motif for Ahirbudhnya, Śiva holding Pināka for Pinākī, ascetic blaze for Paraṃtapas, and a sacrificial flame for Dahana—while sages listen.

Characters & Entities

• Ahirbudhnya
• Pinākī
• Paraṃtapas
• Dahana

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The many names and epithets of Rudra highlight diverse divine functions—protection, austerity, and transformative burning of impurity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named in this verse; it sits inside the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya sequence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse continues the enumerative teaching.