Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 96

Devanagari script

नानाजाति स्वरूपं च चतुर्भिर्देहधारणम् । पार्थिवांशं विना नित्यमष्टौ पार्थिवसिद्धयः

Transliteration

nānājāti svarūpaṃ ca caturbhirdehadhāraṇam | pārthivāṃśaṃ vinā nityamaṣṭau pārthivasiddhayaḥ

Translation

Assuming forms of many kinds of birth and species, and sustaining bodies by means of the four elements—yet without the ‘earthly portion’ there are always eight specifically earthly siddhis.

Word by Word

• नानाजाति: of various kinds
• नानाजाति: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना-जाती (प्रातिपदिक); नाना + जाति
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (various kinds)

• स्वरूपम्: form/nature
• स्वरूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• चतुर्भिः: by four (means)
• चतुर्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• देहधारणम्: support/maintenance of the body
• देहधारणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह-धारण (प्रातिपदिक); देह + धारण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देहस्य धारणम्)

• पार्थिवांशम्: the earthly portion
• पार्थिवांशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव-अंश (प्रातिपदिक); पार्थिव + अंश
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (earthly part)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Exclusion)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वियोगार्थक-उपपद (preposition: ‘without’), द्वितीयान्वयी

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (Adverbial/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (accusative used adverbially: ‘always’)

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• पार्थिवसिद्धयः: earthly perfections/powers
• पार्थिवसिद्धयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव-सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक); पार्थिव + सिद्धि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पार्थिवाः सिद्धयः)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A yogin surrounded by four elemental guardians (earth, water, fire, air) with a fifth ‘space’ implied; above, silhouettes of different species/forms (bird, serpent, sage, deer) indicating jāti-rūpa assumption; a highlighted ‘earth’ panel shows eight icons for pārthiva siddhis.

Characters & Entities

• Catur-bhūta (four elements, implied)
• Pārthiva (earth element)
• Siddhi

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It links bodily manifestation and transformation to elemental principles, presenting siddhis as element-based capacities rather than ultimate spiritual attainment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced; the verse is a technical continuation of siddhi and element doctrine.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is stated; it describes the elemental basis for body-assumption and a class of earthly siddhis.