Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

धूमपानं पाशबन्धं नानाशूलनिपीडनम् । मुखे च नासिकायां च क्षारोदकनिषेचनम्

Transliteration

dhūmapānaṃ pāśabandhaṃ nānāśūlanipīḍanam | mukhe ca nāsikāyāṃ ca kṣārodakaniṣecanam

Translation

L'inhalation forcée de fumée, l'enchaînement avec des nœuds, les douleurs écrasantes de nombreuses lances et le versement d'eau alcaline caustique dans la bouche et les narines.

Word by Word

• धूमपानम्: drinking of smoke
• धूमपानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धूमस्य पानम्)

• पाशबन्धम्: binding with a noose
• पाशबन्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पाशस्य बन्धः)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषणार्थे (various/many)

• शूल: spike, spear
• शूल: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (in compound)

• निपीडनम्: crushing, tormenting
• निपीडनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि-पीड् (धातु) + अन (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भाववाचक-कर्तरि/कर्मणि कृदन्त (compression/torture)

• मुखे: in the mouth
• मुखे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• नासिकायाम्: in the nostril/nose
• नासिकायाम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• क्षारोदकनिषेचनम्: sprinkling/pouring of alkaline water
• क्षारोदकनिषेचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षार (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक) + निषेचन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षारोदकस्य निषेचनम्)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Setu Māhātmya-style narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Setukṣetra (Setubandha)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A grim naraka tableau: sinners bound by nooses, forced smoke inhalation, pierced/crushed by spear-like implements, attendants pouring caustic liquid into mouth and nostrils; stark contrast implied with distant vision of a luminous sea-bridge tīrtha.

Characters & Entities

• Naraka (hell)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It contrasts terrifying hellish punishments with the purifying power later attributed to Setu-related merit, urging dharmic living and pilgrimage-faith.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Setu (Setubandha/Rāmeśvara region) within the Setukhaṇḍa of the Skanda Purana.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is prescribed in this verse; it lists punishments that subsequent verses say are avoided through Setu snāna and related merit.