Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

अश्रुमुख्यो द्विजस्याग्रे निन्युः कालं च तं तदा । ततः काले किंचिदूने ब्रह्मचारी महामतिः

Transliteration

aśrumukhyo dvijasyāgre ninyuḥ kālaṃ ca taṃ tadā | tataḥ kāle kiṃcidūne brahmacārī mahāmatiḥ

Translation

Then, with tearful faces, they spent that time in the Brāhmaṇa’s presence. When a little time still remained, that great-minded brahmacārin then took action.

Word by Word

• अश्रुमुख्यः: with tearful faces
• अश्रुमुख्यः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्रुमुख्य (प्रातिपदिक; अश्रु + मुख्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• द्विजस्य: of the brāhmaṇa
• द्विजस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अग्रे: in front (of)
• अग्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निपातवत्; सप्तमी-अर्थे अव्यय (locative adverb)

• निन्युः: they led/spent
• निन्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कालम्: time
• कालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (then/from that)

• काले: at a time
• काले: Adhikarana (Location-Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• किंचित्: a little
• किंचित्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किंचित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-निपात)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (a little/somewhat)

• ऊने: less/short (by)
• ऊने: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (काले इति विशेष्ये)

• ब्रह्मचारी: the brahmacārin (celibate student)
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महामतिः: great-minded
• महामतिः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामति (प्रातिपदिक; महा + मति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) narrating to the sages (deductive)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Before a brāhmaṇa, Vijayā and companions sit with tearful faces; nearby stands a composed yet intent brahmacārin, as if preparing for a decisive move; the hermitage feels tense despite its sanctity.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa (dvija)
• Brahmacārī
• Vijayā and companions (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The verse frames brahmacarya and disciplined waiting as part of dharmic self-control.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Brahmacarya is implied as an ethical-ritual discipline, though no detailed rite is described.