Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 103

Devanagari script

पर्वतादिमहाभारवहनं लीलयैव च । लघुत्वं गौरवत्वं च पाणिभ्यां वायुवारणम्

Transliteration

parvatādimahābhāravahanaṃ līlayaiva ca | laghutvaṃ gauravatvaṃ ca pāṇibhyāṃ vāyuvāraṇam

Translation

Bearing immense burdens—mountains and the like—becomes mere play. One may assume lightness or heaviness at will, and with the hands even restrain the wind.

Word by Word

• पर्वत-आदि-महा-भार-वहनम्: carrying great loads such as mountains
• पर्वत-आदि-महा-भार-वहनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + महा (उपसर्गवत्/प्रातिपदिक) + भार (प्रातिपदिक) + वहन (प्रातिपदिक; √वह वहने)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (पर्वतादीनां महाभारस्य वहनम्)

• लीलया: playfully, as a sport
• लीलया: Karana (Manner/Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• लघुत्वम्: lightness
• लघुत्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लघु (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक-नाम

• गौरवत्वम्: heaviness, gravity
• गौरवत्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरव (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक-नाम

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• पाणिभ्याम्: with (both) hands
• पाणिभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन

• वायु-वारणम्: stopping/warding off the wind
• वायु-वारणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + वारण (प्रातिपदिक; √वृ/वार् निवारणे)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वायोः वारणम्)

Speaker

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

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Yakṣa-sadman / Tejas-loka (mythic)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A figure lifts a mountain as if a toy; alternates between feather-light and immovable heaviness; with outstretched palms halts a roaring wind—nature obeys disciplined will.

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True power is presented as effortless mastery—when the self is disciplined, even weight and wind submit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No pilgrimage site is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it lists siddhis (notably laghimā/garimā-type powers) rather than rites.