Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

तपस्तेपे गिरिसुता पुत्रेण परिपालिता । ग्रीष्मे पंचाग्निसंतप्ता वर्षासु च जलोषिता

Transliteration

tapastepe girisutā putreṇa paripālitā | grīṣme paṃcāgnisaṃtaptā varṣāsu ca jaloṣitā

Translation

The Daughter of the Mountain performed austerities, protected and attended by her son. In summer she endured the heat of the five fires, and in the rainy season she remained immersed in water.

Word by Word

• tapaḥ: austerity, penance
• tapaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• tepe: performed (austerities)
• tepe: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tap (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Perfect, 3rd person, Singular

• giri-sutā: daughter of the mountain (Pārvatī)
• giri-sutā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक) + sutā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• putreṇa: by (her) son
• putreṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• paripālitā: protected, cared for
• paripālitā: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari + pāl (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि प्रयोग), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Past passive participle, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• grīṣme: in summer
• grīṣme: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grīṣma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Masculine, Locative, Singular

• paṃca-agni-saṃtaptā: heated by the five fires (pañcāgni-tapas)
• paṃca-agni-saṃtaptā: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṃca (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃ + tap (धातु)
• Form: समासः (पञ्चाग्नि-तत्पुरुष) + कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Compound + past passive participle, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• varṣāsu: in the rains (rainy season)
• varṣāsu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; Feminine, Locative, Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• jala-uṣitā: dwelling in water (immersed in water)
• jala-uṣitā: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + uṣ (धातु)
• Form: समासः (जल-तत्पुरुष) + कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Compound + past passive participle, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced for Māheśvarakhaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Pārvatī, the mountain-born goddess, seated in austere meditation: in summer encircled by four fires with the sun overhead (pañcāgni), and in monsoon standing immersed in water, while a youthful attendant-son keeps watch nearby.

Characters & Entities

• Devī (Pārvatī)
• Her son (unnamed here; contextually Gaṇeśa/Skanda depending on recension)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Steadfastness in dharma: spiritual attainment is pursued through disciplined endurance across changing seasons and conditions.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Himalayan ascetic setting is highlighted generally; no named tīrtha is specified in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pañcāgni-tapas (austerity amid five fires) and seasonal observances like water-immersion during the rains.