Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 87

Devanagari script

यस्यांशात्तामसाज्जातो रुद्रः कालाग्निसन्निभः । विश्वमेतद्धरत्यंते स पूज्योऽस्माभिरीश्वरः

Transliteration

yasyāṃśāttāmasājjāto rudraḥ kālāgnisannibhaḥ | viśvametaddharatyaṃte sa pūjyo'smābhirīśvaraḥ

Translation

From His portion, through tamas, Rudra is born—like the fire of Time at the end—and at the end he withdraws this universe. That Lord (Īśvara) is worshipped by us.

Word by Word

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन, पुं/नपुंसक — ‘whose’

• aṃśāt: from (his) portion
• aṃśāt: Apādāna (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• tāmasāt: from tamas (tamasic aspect)
• tāmasāt: Apādāna (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāmasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन, पुं/नपुंसक — विशेषण; ‘from the tamasic (quality)’

• jātaḥ: born, arisen
• jātaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु) + क्त (भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘born/arisen’

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kālāgnisannibhaḥ: resembling the fire of Time
• kālāgnisannibhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘कालाग्नेः सन्निभः’/‘like the fire of time’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — विशेषण (of Rudra)

• viśvam: the universe
• viśvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — विशेषण (of viśvam)

• dharati: holds, supports
• dharati: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ante: at the end
• ante: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक — ‘at the end’ (अधिकरण)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• pūjyaḥ: worthy of worship
• pūjyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūj (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त/भाव्य)
• Form: भाव्य/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: ‘to be worshipped’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• asmābhiḥ: by us
• asmābhiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, बहुवचन

• īśvaraḥ: the Lord
• īśvaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Rājaputra (continuing reply)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Rudra born from the Lord’s tāmasa portion, blazing like the fire of Time; the cosmos shown at the brink of dissolution—waves, smoke, and collapsing worlds—while Īśvara remains steady and worship-worthy.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Rudra
• Tamas
• Kālāgni

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dissolution and transformation (pralaya) are sacred functions rooted in the Lord; worship recognizes Śiva as master of beginnings and endings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse praises cosmic dissolution under divine lordship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; it continues the theological praise supporting Śiva-worship.