Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

एवं वाय्वग्निसोमैश्च देहः संधारितस्त्वसौ । आकाशजानि स्रोतांसि तथा कोष्ठविविक्तता

Transliteration

evaṃ vāyvagnisomaiśca dehaḥ saṃdhāritastvasau | ākāśajāni srotāṃsi tathā koṣṭhaviviktatā

Translation

Thus is this body held together by Vāyu, Agni, and Soma. From Ākāśa arise the bodily channels (srotas), and from it too comes the inner spacing and distinctness of the visceral cavities.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'thus')

• वाय्वग्निसोमैः: by wind, fire, and soma
• वाय्वग्निसोमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• देहः: the body
• देहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• संधारितः: is sustained
• संधारितः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + धृ (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) विधेय-विशेषण ('is sustained/held together')

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• असौ: this (one)
• असौ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/असौ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (demonstrative pronoun)

• आकाशजानि: born from space (ether)
• आकाशजानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (जन्-धातु, क-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; 'आकाशात् जातानि' इति विशेषण

• स्रोतांसि: channels/ducts
• स्रोतांसि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रोतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय

• कोष्ठविविक्तता: separation/emptiness of the viscera (cavities)
• कोष्ठविविक्तता: Karta (Subject/Item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + विविक्तता (विविक्त + ता; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भाववाचक -ता प्रत्ययान्त

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative convention)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A teacher illustrates the body as a temple: vāyu as moving currents, agni as inner flame, soma as cooling nectar; ākāśa as luminous space forming channels and cavities.

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu
• Agni
• Soma
• Ākāśa
• Srotas
• Koṣṭha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Life is sustained by cosmic principles (elements and forces); recognizing this fosters humility and dharmic living.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is referenced; the verse is cosmological-physiological instruction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is prescribed in this verse.