Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 120

Devanagari script

विवस्त्रो मुक्तलज्जश्च विष्ठानुलेपितः । याचमानश्च सलिलं शुष्ककण्ठोष्ठतालुकः

Transliteration

vivastro muktalajjaśca viṣṭhānulepitaḥ | yācamānaśca salilaṃ śuṣkakaṇṭhoṣṭhatālukaḥ

Translation

Naked, with shame cast away, smeared with filth, he begs for water—his throat, lips, and palate utterly parched.

Word by Word

• vivastraḥ: naked, without clothes
• vivastraḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'विवस्त्र' = वस्त्ररहित

• mukta: freed, cast off
• mukta: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (कृदन्त; √muc धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (in compound)

• lajjaḥ: shame/modesty
• lajjaḥ: Visheshya (Qualified/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lajjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (in compound)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• viṣṭhā: excrement
• viṣṭhā: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (in compound)

• anulepitaḥ: smeared (with)
• anulepitaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu + lepita (कृदन्त; √lip/√lep धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP)

• yācamānaḥ: begging
• yācamānaḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yāc (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• salilam: water
• salilam: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: salila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• śuṣka: dry
• śuṣka: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuṣka (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √śuṣ धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (in compound)

• kaṇṭha: throat
• kaṇṭha: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (in compound)

• oṣṭha: lip
• oṣṭha: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: oṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (in compound)

• tālukaḥ: palate
• tālukaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāluka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासस्य प्रधानपदम्

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Unflinching deathbed realism: the dying person unclothed, smeared with filth, eyes pleading for water; attendants recoil yet remain compassionate; a water pot just out of reach.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Worldly pride collapses at death; one should seek lasting refuge in dharma and devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is specified; the focus is on universal mortality.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is prescribed; the verse functions as a meditation to inspire renunciation and pious living.