Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

मज्जंतं तारयत्येको हरः संसारसागरात् । दानं वृत्तं व्रतं वाचः कीर्तिधर्मौ तथायुषः

Transliteration

majjaṃtaṃ tārayatyeko haraḥ saṃsārasāgarāt | dānaṃ vṛttaṃ vrataṃ vācaḥ kīrtidharmau tathāyuṣaḥ

Translation

Hara (Śiva) alone rescues the one who is drowning from the ocean of saṃsāra. Charity, right conduct, vows, disciplined speech, good repute and Dharma—and even longevity—are upheld and fulfilled through refuge in Him.

Word by Word

• मज्जन्तम्: one who is sinking
• मज्जन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मज्जत् (कृदन्त; √मज्ज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle)

• तारयति: saves, ferries across
• तारयति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एकः: alone, one
• एकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संसारसागरात्: from the ocean of worldly existence
• संसारसागरात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार + सागर (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (संसारस्य सागरः)

• दानम्: charity, giving
• दानम्: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वृत्तम्: conduct, good behavior
• वृत्तम्: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्रतम्: vow, observance
• व्रतम्: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वाचः: of speech; words
• वाचः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (वाचः = वाचः/वाचः)

• कीर्तिधर्मौ: fame and righteousness
• कीर्तिधर्मौ: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति + धर्म (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (कीर्तिः च धर्मः च)

• तथा: and also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आयुषः: of life, lifespan
• आयुषः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee sinking in a dark, wave-tossed ocean labeled ‘saṃsāra’ is lifted by Hara’s outstretched hand; around them float symbols of dāna (gift-vessel), vrata (rosary/fasting mark), vāg-niyama (sealed lips), and dharma (balance/śāstra).

Characters & Entities

• Hara
• Śiva
• Saṃsāra
• Dāna
• Vrata
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva (Hara) is proclaimed as the sole savior from saṃsāra, while dharmic practices like charity and vows support a righteous and meaningful life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is named; the verse emphasizes devotion to Śiva and dharmic living in general.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dāna (charity) and vrata (religious vows/observances) are explicitly mentioned, along with right conduct and disciplined speech.