Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

ततः कुसुमबाणेन शरव्रातैर्भृशं हतः । पितरं प्रणतो गत्वा ययाचे तां भृगूद्वहम्

Transliteration

tataḥ kusumabāṇena śaravrātairbhṛśaṃ hataḥ | pitaraṃ praṇato gatvā yayāce tāṃ bhṛgūdvaham

Translation

Then, grievously struck by volleys of flower-arrows, I went to her father, bowed down before him, and begged him for her in marriage—him, the foremost of the Bhṛgus.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = indeclinable adverb; अर्थे: 'thereupon/then'

• कुसुमबाणेन: with the flower-arrow
• कुसुमबाणेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम-बाण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; कुसुमस्य बाणः = 'flower-arrow' (Kāmadeva’s arrow)

• शरव्रातैः: with volleys of arrows
• शरव्रातैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर-व्रात (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; शराणां व्रातः = a multitude of arrows

• भृशम्: severely
• भृशम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = adverb; 'excessively, greatly'

• हतः: was struck down
• हतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; passive sense: 'having been struck/killed'

• पितरम्: (his) father
• पितरम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• प्रणतः: bowed (in submission)
• प्रणतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु) → प्रणत (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त/PPP used adjectivally, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'bowed down, prostrated'

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); 'having gone'

• ययाचे: begged, requested
• ययाचे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: याच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• भृगूद्वहम्: the foremost Bhṛgu (sage)
• भृगूद्वहम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु-उद्वह (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; भृगूणाम् उद्वहः = 'best of the Bhṛgus'

Speaker

First-person narrator within Sūta’s narration

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A love-struck suitor, metaphorically wounded by flower-arrows, approaches a venerable Bhṛgu-lineage sage, bows, and petitions for the maiden’s hand; attendants and ritual objects suggest a formal request.

Characters & Entities

• Kusumabāṇa (Kāma)
• bhṛgūdvaha (foremost Bhṛgu)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even when desire arises, dharma requires humility, proper approach, and lawful consent—desire is disciplined by right conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No sacred geography is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is described, but it reflects the dharmic step of approaching the guardian for consent in marriage.