Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 38

Devanagari script

कामार्तेन मया शप्तस्तस्मात्कूर्मः क्षणाद्भव । ततः प्रणम्य विज्ञप्तः शापतापहरो मया

Transliteration

kāmārtena mayā śaptastasmātkūrmaḥ kṣaṇādbhava | tataḥ praṇamya vijñaptaḥ śāpatāpaharo mayā

Translation

“Afflicted by lust, you were cursed by Me; therefore, become a tortoise in an instant.” Then, bowing down, he petitioned (Me), and I became the remover of the burning pain of that curse.

Word by Word

• कामार्तेन: by one afflicted with desire
• कामार्तेन: Karana (Instrumental circumstance/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; समासः कामेन आर्तः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (Agent in passive sense/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental, Singular

• शप्तः: cursed
• शप्तः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शप् (धातु) → शप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Past participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Ablative/हेतु-अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन — Ablative, Singular; हेतु-अर्थे ‘therefore/from that’

• कूर्मः: a tortoise
• कूर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षणात्: in an instant
• क्षणात्: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन — Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• भव: become
• भव: Kriya (Command/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन — Imperative, 2nd person, Singular

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (काल/अनन्तर) — Indeclinable adverb ‘then/thereupon’

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्यय-भावे) — Absolutive, ‘having bowed’

• विज्ञप्तः: was petitioned/informed
• विज्ञप्तः: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ज्ञप् (धातु) → विज्ञप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Past participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘I was informed/requested’ (passive sense)

• शापतापहरः: remover of the curse’s torment
• शापतापहरः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्धी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाप + ताप + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; समासः शापस्य तापस्य च हरः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद-समाहार)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

Īśvara (Śiva)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: The offender (and the narrative audience)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva’s word triggers immediate metamorphosis: the offender becomes a colossal tortoise; then, in devotion, he bows and petitions, and Śiva cools the ‘burning’ of the curse with grace.

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara (Śiva)
• Kūrma (tortoise form)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Unrestrained lust leads to downfall, yet sincere submission can draw grace—Śiva both disciplines and relieves, restoring dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it highlights a dharma narrative of curse, transformation, and divine compassion.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; the implied spiritual practice is humility and surrender (praṇāma) leading to relief.