Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 82

Devanagari script

तां शापाभिमुखीं दृष्ट्वा शैलः पुरुषाविग्रहः । उवाच तां वरारोहां त्वरयाथ सुलोचनाम्

Transliteration

tāṃ śāpābhimukhīṃ dṛṣṭvā śailaḥ puruṣāvigrahaḥ | uvāca tāṃ varārohāṃ tvarayātha sulocanām

Translation

Seeing her poised to pronounce a curse, Śaila—assuming a human form—spoke to that fair-hipped, beautiful-eyed woman, urging her to act quickly (or to restrain herself swiftly).

Word by Word

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• शापाभिमुखीम्: facing (to utter) a curse
• शापाभिमुखीम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाप (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमुखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (शापे अभिमुखी) — Accusative singular, qualifying ताम्

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund/absolutive) — having seen

• शैलः: the mountain (Śaila)
• शैलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• पुरुषाविग्रहः: having a human form
• पुरुषाविग्रहः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (पुरुषस्य विग्रहः/आकृतिः) — Nominative singular, apposition to शैलः

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम् — Perfect, 3rd sg.

• ताम्: to her
• ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• वरारोहाम्: O fair-thighed/beautifully formed woman
• वरारोहाम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + आरोहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (वरम् आरोहति/वर-आरोहा) — Accusative singular, qualifying ताम्

• त्वरय: quickly
• त्वरय: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्वरय (अव्यय)
• Form: आज्ञार्थक-अव्यय/क्रियाविशेषण (hastily/quickly); पाठभेदे 'त्वरया' (त्वरा-तृतीया) सम्भवः

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse link/अनन्तर)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-निपात (then/now)

• सुलोचनाम्: O beautiful-eyed one
• सुलोचनाम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + लोचना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (सु-लोचना) — Accusative singular, qualifying ताम्

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A mountain-spirit/personified Śaila steps forth as a dignified man from swirling elements; the woman stands poised, curse on her lips, as the scene freezes at the moment of recognition and urgent counsel.

Characters & Entities

• Śaila

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual power (from tapas) compels even antagonists to negotiate; speech and restraint become decisive.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in the provided verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse sets up a dialogic turning point around the act of pronouncing a śāpa.