Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

जटां त्रिषवणस्नानपिंगलां धारयन्नथ । वृद्धद्विजो महातेजा ददृशे ब्राह्मणैर्मम

Transliteration

jaṭāṃ triṣavaṇasnānapiṃgalāṃ dhārayannatha | vṛddhadvijo mahātejā dadṛśe brāhmaṇairmama

Translation

Wearing matted locks (jaṭā), tawny from bathing at the three daily rites, that aged brāhmaṇa of great splendor was then seen by my brāhmaṇas.

Word by Word

• जटाम्: matted hair
• जटाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• त्रिषवणस्नानपिङ्गलाम्: yellowish from thrice-daily bathing
• त्रिषवणस्नानपिङ्गलाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + सवण (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + पिङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; समासः—त्रिषवणस्नानेन पिङ्गला (yellowish due to thrice-daily bathing); विशेषण (qualifying जटाम्)

• धारयन्: bearing
• धारयन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु) + शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तरि; विशेषण (of the subject)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Sequence/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक

• वृद्धद्विजः: an aged Brahmin
• वृद्धद्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (वृद्धः द्विजः)

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः; विशेषण (qualifying वृद्धद्विजः)

• ददृशे: was seen / appeared
• ददृशे: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (ददृशे = ‘was seen/appeared’)

• ब्राह्मणैः: by the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया); बहुवचन; करण/कर्तृ-निर्देश (by)

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Sāgara-tīra (ocean-shore)

Type: ghat

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Implied audience of the Purāṇic narration; within episode, the brāhmaṇas are observers

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An aged brāhmaṇa ascetic with matted locks, tawny from frequent bathing, stands radiant; the narrator’s brāhmaṇas notice him with reverence and surprise, sensing extraordinary tejas beneath the humble form.

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Vṛddha-dvija (aged brāhmaṇa/guest)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Outer signs of discipline (tri-savana bathing, ascetic marks) indicate inner tapas and invite reverence toward the guest.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No named tīrtha appears in this verse; it highlights dharmic conduct and the recognition of sanctity.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tri-ṣavaṇa-snāna—bathing at the three daily junctions—is referenced as a mark of disciplined practice.