Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 57

Devanagari script

कशाप्रहाराभिहतो वह्निदग्धतनुस्तथा । शीताढ्येव स्थितो घोरे स्पर्शं बाह्यं न विन्दति

Transliteration

kaśāprahārābhihato vahnidagdhatanustathā | śītāḍhyeva sthito ghore sparśaṃ bāhyaṃ na vindati

Translation

Even if struck by blows of a whip, even if the body is scorched by fire, or even if one stands amid dreadful cold, he does not perceive any external touch—so absorbed is he in inner stillness.

Word by Word

• kaśā-prahāra-abhihataḥ: struck by whip-blows
• kaśā-prahāra-abhihataḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaśā (प्रातिपदिक) + prahāra (प्रातिपदिक) + abhihata (कृदन्त; √han (धातु) + abhi- उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त — 'struck by whip-blows'

• vahni-dagdha-tanuḥ: (one) with body burnt by fire
• vahni-dagdha-tanuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक) + dagdha (कृदन्त; √dah (धातु), क्त) + tanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष — 'one whose body is burnt by fire'

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Adverbial modifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Prakāra-avyaya (adverb) — 'thus/also'

• śīta-āḍhya-iva: as if extremely cold
• śīta-āḍhya-iva: Sambandha (Simile marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīta (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक) + iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Upamā-avyaya (comparative particle) with adjective phrase — 'as if rich in cold/very cold'

• sthitaḥ: remaining
• sthitaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (कृदन्त; √sthā (धातु), क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त — 'standing/remaining'

• ghore: in a terrible (state)
• ghore: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsakalिङ्ग, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; विशेषण used substantively — 'in the terrible (condition/place)'

• sparśam: touch
• sparśam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sparśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• bāhyam: external
• bāhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; विशेषण

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (negation)

• vindati: perceives
• vindati: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced for Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A yogin seated in meditation while a whip cracks nearby, flames lick around, and icy winds swirl; despite dramatic elements, his face remains tranquil, suggesting inner insulation from touch.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True meditative absorption makes the yogin inwardly steady, unmoved by bodily pain, heat, or cold.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; the focus is yogic samādhi as a dharmic ideal.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is prescribed here; it describes the experiential hallmark of deep meditation.