Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

एतत्सर्वमशेषेण स दृष्ट्वा बल्लवीसुतः । कुतूहलेन विदधे शिवपूजां विरक्तिदाम्

Transliteration

etatsarvamaśeṣeṇa sa dṛṣṭvā ballavīsutaḥ | kutūhalena vidadhe śivapūjāṃ viraktidām

Translation

Après avoir tout vu en entier, le fils de la vachère, saisi de curiosité, entreprit l’adoration de Śiva, dispensateur du détachement.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अशेषेण: entirely
• अशेषेण: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (instrumental used adverbially: completely)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• बल्लवीसुतः: the cowherd-woman’s son
• बल्लवीसुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ballavī + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (बल्लव्याः सुतः)

• कुतूहलेन: out of curiosity
• कुतूहलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kutūhala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विदधे: performed/undertook
• विदधे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• शिवपूजाम्: Śiva-worship
• शिवपूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (शिवस्य पूजाम्)

• विरक्तिदाम्: granting detachment
• विरक्तिदाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: virakti + dā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (विरक्तिं ददाति इति)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator, unspecified in snippet)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A young cowherd boy, having observed the grand worship, looks inspired and begins arranging his own simple Śiva-pūjā with earnest concentration.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Ballavī (cowherdess)
• Ballavī-suta (her son)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva-pūjā is praised not merely for worldly gain but as a means that grants virakti (dispassion) and inner turning toward dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse glorifies Śiva worship itself as spiritually elevating.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The act prescribed is Śiva-pūjā (worship of Śiva), motivated here by kutoohala that matures into devotion.