Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

अभावे तु सहस्रस्य बाह्वोः षोडश षोडश । एकं शिखायां करयोर्द्वादश द्वादशैव हि

Transliteration

abhāve tu sahasrasya bāhvoḥ ṣoḍaśa ṣoḍaśa | ekaṃ śikhāyāṃ karayordvādaśa dvādaśaiva hi

Translation

Si l’on ne peut en avoir mille, qu’on en porte seize et seize aux deux bras ; un au chignon du sommet ; et douze et douze aux deux mains, assurément.

Word by Word

• अभावे: in the absence
• अभावे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्; 'अभावे' = अभाव-स्थितौ

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• सहस्रस्य: of a thousand
• सहस्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्

• बाह्वोः: on the two arms
• बाह्वोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचनम्; अत्र 'बाह्वोः' = बाह्वोः (on the two arms)

• षोडश: sixteen
• षोडश: Vishesana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचकः, अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; 'षोडश' = sixteen (count)

• षोडश: sixteen (each)
• षोडश: Vishesana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचकः, पुनरुक्त्या वितरणार्थः (each)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; गणनावाचक

• शिखायाम्: on the topknot
• शिखायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्

• करयोः: on the two hands
• करयोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचनम्; अत्र 'करयोः' = on the two hands

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Vishesana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचकः, अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• द्वादश: twelve (each)
• द्वादश: Vishesana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचकः, पुनरुक्त्या वितरणार्थः (each)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), अवधारणार्थक (emphasis)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक

Speaker

Sūta (continued narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A calm ascetic or householder devotee arranging rudrākṣa strands on arms, hands, and śikhā, seated near a small liṅga; emphasis on measured counts and ritual order.

Characters & Entities

• Rudrākṣa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is made practicable: when the ideal quantity is not possible, an alternative, structured observance is provided.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy place is referenced; the verse is a practical instruction for Rudrākṣa dhāraṇa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A fallback count and placement of Rudrākṣas on arms, śikhā, and hands.