Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

स्यामहं कांचनाकारा वाल्लभ्येन च संयुता । भर्तुर्भूतपतेरंगे ह्येकतो निर्विशंकिता

Transliteration

syāmahaṃ kāṃcanākārā vāllabhyena ca saṃyutā | bharturbhūtapateraṃge hyekato nirviśaṃkitā

Translation

Though I am dark, I bear a golden radiance and am endowed with beloved grace; yet upon the body of my husband, the Lord of beings, I remain set to one side—without confidence.

Word by Word

• स्याम्: may I be
• स्याम्: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थः—स्याम् (may I be)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (nominative singular)

• कांचनाकारा: of golden form
• कांचनाकारा: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—काञ्चनस्य आकारः यस्याः (having a golden form)

• वल्लभ्येन: with belovedness/charm
• वल्लभ्येन: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वल्लभ्य (प्रातिपदिक; वल्लभ से भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; भाववाचक—प्रियत्व/वल्लभता (belovedness)

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

• संयुता: endowed (with)
• संयुता: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + युज् (धातु) → संयुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त—युक्ता/समन्विता (endowed/connected)

• भर्तुः: of (my) husband
• भर्तुः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (genitive singular)

• भूतपतेः: of the lord of beings (Śiva)
• भूतपतेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—भूतानां पतिः (lord of beings)

• अङ्गे: on the body/limb
• अङ्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (locative singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipata (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• एकतः: on one side
• एकतः: Desha (Place/side)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: on one side)

• निर्विशंकिता: without fear/doubt
• निर्विशंकिता: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + विशङ्कित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; शङ्क् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; निः-उपसर्गेण नञर्थः—अशङ्किता (without doubt/fear)

Speaker

Pārvatī (Devī)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Brahmā

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Girijā describes herself: dark yet with golden radiance, beloved, but feeling placed ‘to one side’ on her husband Bhūtapati’s body—an image of intimate proximity mixed with insecurity; the scene is emotionally nuanced, not merely iconic.

Characters & Entities

• Bhūtapati (Śiva)
• Pārvatī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The verse frames inner worth and divine grace beyond outward appearance, preparing the ground for Devī’s cosmic manifestation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified in this verse; it continues the mythic dialogue.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; it is a narrative statement about Devī’s condition and longing for rightful union.