Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 78

Devanagari script

हिमाचलस्य श्रृंगैस्तैर्मेघमालाकुलैर्मनः । तथा दुरवागाह्योऽसौ हृदयेभ्यस्तवाशयः

Transliteration

himācalasya śrṛṃgaistairmeghamālākulairmanaḥ | tathā duravāgāhyo'sau hṛdayebhyastavāśayaḥ

Translation

Like the peaks of Himācala wreathed in garlands of clouds, so too is your intention hard to fathom—even for hearts that try to enter it.

Word by Word

• हिमाचलस्य: of Himālaya
• हिमाचलस्य: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिम + अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (हिमः अचलः)

• शृङ्गैः: by the peaks
• शृङ्गैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचनम्

• तैः: those
• तैः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘शृङ्गैः’ इति विशेषणम्

• मेघमालाकुलैः: crowded with garlands of clouds
• मेघमालाकुलैः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ + माला + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तृतीया-बहुवचनं ‘शृङ्गैः’ इति विशेषणम्; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषार्थः (मेघमालया आकुलः)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• तथा: so / likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: ‘in the same way/so’)

• दुरवागाह्यः: hard to fathom
• दुरवागाह्यः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग) + अव + गाह् (धातु) → अवागाह्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, यत्)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषणम् (यत्-प्रत्ययान्तः ‘-गाह्य’ = ‘to be entered/understood’); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘दुर्’ उपसर्गेण ‘दुष्करः’ अर्थः

• असौ: that (one)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• हृदयॆभ्यः: from (our) hearts
• हृदयॆभ्यः: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative/5th), बहुवचनम्

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्; मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम

• आशयः: intention / thought
• आशयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Śiva (continuing address to Girijā)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Himācala (as sacred mountain archetype)

Type: peak

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A poetic cutaway: towering Himalayan peaks wrapped in cloud garlands, mirroring the unfathomable resolve of the addressed goddess.

Characters & Entities

• Himācala (Himālaya)
• Śiva
• Girijā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A clouded inner state makes intentions opaque; clarity and openness are virtues that support harmony and right understanding.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Himācala (the Himālaya) is invoked poetically, but no pilgrimage merit or tīrtha-vidhi is stated.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.