Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 63

Devanagari script

महेश्वरमिव श्रीमद्द्विजराजकलाधरम् । शांतं शिष्यगणोपेतं तपसामेकभाजनम्

Transliteration

maheśvaramiva śrīmaddvijarājakalādharam | śāṃtaṃ śiṣyagaṇopetaṃ tapasāmekabhājanam

Translation

He was like Maheśvara himself—splendid, bearing the crescent moon; tranquil, surrounded by disciples, and a single vessel containing the very essence of austerity (tapas).

Word by Word

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; उपमानपदम्

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्ययम्

• श्रीमत्: splendid/illustrious
• श्रीमत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; (गौतमम्) विशेषणम्

• द्विजराज-कलाधरम्: bearing the digit of the moon
• द्विजराज-कलाधरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विजराज (प्रातिपदिक) + कलाधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः; पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; (गौतमम्) विशेषणम्

• शान्तम्: peaceful
• शान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (√शम् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; (गौतमम्) विशेषणम्

• शिष्य-गण-उपेतम्: accompanied by a group of disciples
• शिष्य-गण-उपेतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (उप-√इ धातु, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः; पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; (गौतमम्) विशेषणम्

• तपसाम्: of austerities
• तपसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचनम्

• एक-भाजनम्: the sole receptacle (of austerities)
• एक-भाजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + भाजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः; पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; (गौतमम्) विशेषणम्

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator, contextually Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Gautama appears Śiva-like: tranquil, crescent symbolism suggested, surrounded by disciples; an aura of concentrated austerity, as if tapas itself has taken form.

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Śiva (Maheśvara)
• Candra (Moon)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A true guru, grounded in tapas and peace, becomes a living embodiment of divine qualities and a refuge for seekers.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None explicitly; the verse elevates the sage’s sanctity using Śaiva symbolism.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it establishes the authority of the sage through praise and iconographic comparison.