Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 61

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा प्राणसमं लिंगं दग्धं वैश्यपतिस्तथा । स्वयमप्याप्तनिर्वेदो मरणाय मतिं दधौ

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā prāṇasamaṃ liṃgaṃ dagdhaṃ vaiśyapatistathā | svayamapyāptanirvedo maraṇāya matiṃ dadhau

Translation

Al ver el Liṅga—tan querido para él como la vida misma—consumido por el fuego, aquel jefe de mercaderes, poseído de hondo desapego, resolvió morir.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive)

• प्राणसमम्: as dear as life
• प्राणसमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्राणानां समम् = as dear as life)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दग्धम्: burnt
• दग्धम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दह् (धातु) + दग्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वैश्यपतिः: the vaiśya-lord (merchant)
• वैश्यपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वैश्यस्य पतिः = lord/husband of the vaiśya / vaiśya-chief)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (also/likewise)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta (Agent-emphasis/कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थ (oneself)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• आप्तनिर्वेदः: having attained despair/dispassion
• आप्तनिर्वेदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + निर्वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (आप्तः निर्वेदः यस्य/आप्त-निर्वेदः = having obtained dispassion)

• मरणाय: for death
• मरणाय: Sampradana (Purpose/Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (for death)

• मतिम्: intention/mind
• मतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दधौ: he resolved/placed (his mind)
• दधौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; (he) placed/formed

Speaker

Narrator (context not specified in excerpt)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The merchant-leader gazes at the burnt liṅga with hollowed eyes; his posture shifts from shock to a still, resolved dispassion—hands lowered, face set, as if life has drained away.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (as Liṅga)
• Vaiśyapati (merchant leader)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True devotion treats the emblem of the deity as one’s very life; when that sanctity is violated, remorse can become intense—guiding one toward atonement and transformation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No named site appears in this verse; the narrative centers on the Śiva-liṅga’s sacredness.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is stated; it describes the merchant’s inner resolve born of remorse.