Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

अक्षयं स्वल्पमप्यन्नं भवेत्तस्योपसाधितम् । विजयी च भवेन्नित्यं तथा जातिस्मरो भवेत्

Transliteration

akṣayaṃ svalpamapyannaṃ bhavettasyopasādhitam | vijayī ca bhavennityaṃ tathā jātismaro bhavet

Translation

Even a small amount of food becomes inexhaustible for him, as though perfectly provided. He becomes ever victorious, and also one who remembers former births.

Word by Word

• अक्षयम्: imperishable, inexhaustible
• अक्षयम्: Karma (Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; नञ्-तत्पुरुषभावः (negated)

• स्वल्पम्: small, little
• स्वल्पम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-कारक (even/also) निपातः

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• भवेत्: may become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (genitive)

• उपसाधितम्: well-procured, duly obtained
• उपसाधितम्: Karma (Object predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + साध् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; (तस्य अन्नम्) उपसाधितम् = well-provided/obtained

• विजयी: victorious
• विजयी: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + जि (धातु) + इन् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; ‘विजयिन्’ = victorious

• च: and
• च: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• भवेत्: may be
• भवेत्: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (time-adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्य/एवम्-अर्थक क्रियाविशेषणम् (thus/likewise)

• जातिस्मरः: one who remembers past births
• जातिस्मरः: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जातीनां स्मरः = one who remembers births); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• भवेत्: may become
• भवेत्: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Bhāskara (Sūrya/Āditya)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee’s humble meal becomes symbolically inexhaustible; alongside, a victorious aura (banner/weapon subdued) and a visionary moment of remembering past births (dreamlike vignettes).

Characters & Entities

• Akṣaya
• Anna
• Jāti-smara

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion yields both worldly stability (sustenance, victory) and subtle spiritual attainments (expanded memory and insight).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

These fruits are promised within the Bhaṭṭāditya tīrtha-māhātmya framework of this chapter, though the place-name is not in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Continuation of the prior discipline: regular hearing/recitation and worship that results in akṣaya merit and prosperity.