Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

मार्कंडेयादिभिः प्राप्य कीर्त्युद्धारंच सत्तम । नायं कामयते स्वर्गं पुनःपातादिभीषणम्

Transliteration

mārkaṃḍeyādibhiḥ prāpya kīrtyuddhāraṃca sattama | nāyaṃ kāmayate svargaṃ punaḥpātādibhīṣaṇam

Translation

O best of the good, having approached Mārkaṇḍeya and others and secured the restoration of his fame, he does not desire heaven, which is dreadful because of the fear of falling again.

Word by Word

• मार्कण्डेयादिभिः: by Mārkaṇḍeya and others
• मार्कण्डेयादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मार्कण्डेयः आदिः येषाम्) ‘by Mārkaṇḍeya and others’

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) → प्राप्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund); ‘having obtained/after attaining’

• कीर्त्युद्धारम्: restoration of fame
• कीर्त्युद्धारम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कीर्तेः उद्धारः) ‘restoration of fame’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सत्तम: O best one
• सत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + तमप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘O best of the good’

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• अयम्: this (man)
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कामयते: desires
• कामयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कम् (धातु) (कामय-णिजन्त)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘desires’

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुनःपातादिभीषणम्: frightful because of falling again (etc.)
• पुनःपातादिभीषणम्: Karman (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय) + पात (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + भीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पुनःपातः आदिः यस्मात् तत्) ‘frightful due to re-fall etc.’; agrees with स्वर्गम्

Speaker

Kūrma (context continues from prior verse)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: the addressed ‘sattama’ within the scene (implied revered interlocutor)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indradyumna, having met Mārkaṇḍeya and other sages, stands composed and detached; he rejects the lure of heaven, mindful of the fear of falling again.

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma
• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Svarga
• Indradyumna

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Svarga is impermanent; wise seekers prefer lasting upliftment through dharma and inner transformation over temporary celestial pleasure.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse highlights counsel/association with sages like Mārkaṇḍeya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is stated; the implied practice is seeking guidance from realized sages to restore dharmic standing.