Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

आरार्तिकं भ्रामयित्वा अर्तिहीनः प्रजायते । कृत्वा शीतलिकां तापैर्मुच्यते दोष संभवैः

Transliteration

ārārtikaṃ bhrāmayitvā artihīnaḥ prajāyate | kṛtvā śītalikāṃ tāpairmucyate doṣa saṃbhavaiḥ

Translation

By waving the ārārtika (lamp-offering), a person becomes free from afflictions. By performing the Śītalikā rite, one is released from burning torments and from faults that give rise to suffering.

Word by Word

• ārārtikam: ārati (ritual lamp-waving)
• ārārtikam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārārtika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• bhrāmayitvā: having waved (it)
• bhrāmayitvā: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhram (धातु) [णिजन्त causative: bhrāmaya-]
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund) of causative, अव्यय; ‘having caused to revolve/waved’

• arti-hīnaḥ: free from affliction
• arti-hīnaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject complement/कर्तृसमाना)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arti (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अर्तेः हीनः = पीडारहितः)

• prajāyate: is born; becomes
• prajāyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-jan (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्यय

• śītalikām: a cooling rite/act (śītalikā)
• śītalikām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śītalikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• tāpaiḥ: from fevers/heat (torments)
• tāpaiḥ: Apadana (Ablative sense/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/अपादानार्थे), बहुवचन

• mucyate: is released
• mucyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातu)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे—‘is freed’

• doṣa-saṃbhavaiḥ: from fault-born (ailments)
• doṣa-saṃbhavaiḥ: Apadana (Ablative sense/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/अपादानार्थे), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दोषेभ्यः सम्भवाः/दोषसम्भवाः)

Speaker

Śiva (as Kumāreśvara, in the Kumārikākhaṇḍa narrative)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Devotee audience (unspecified)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A priest circles a blazing multi-wick lamp before the liṅga; devotees’ faces glow in the light. In a second moment, the deity is anointed with sandal and bathed with cool water; a ceremonial fan wafts, evoking relief from heat and distress.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Kumāreśvara

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotional ritual performed with faith—like ārati—purifies suffering and removes distress-causing impurities.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kumāreśvara in the Guptakṣetra/Kumāreśvara-kṣetra context of the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Waving the ārārtika (lamp-offering) and performing the Śītalikā cooling observance/rite.