Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

विधातव्यं तपः प्राप्तं स्थानेस्मिच्छिवकल्पिते । निवृत्त्य निखिलान्कामाच्छंमुमाश्रितया त्वया

Transliteration

vidhātavyaṃ tapaḥ prāptaṃ sthānesmicchivakalpite | nivṛttya nikhilānkāmācchaṃmumāśritayā tvayā

Translation

L’austérité (tapas) que tu as entreprise doit être menée à son terme en ce lieu établi par Śiva. En prenant refuge en Śambhu, détourne-toi de tout désir.

Word by Word

• विधातव्यम्: to be done, must be performed
• विधातव्यम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory) from √धा with उपसर्ग वि; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be performed/arranged’

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (here object of ‘विधातव्यम्’)

• प्राप्तम्: obtained, assigned
• प्राप्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) from √आप् with उपसर्ग प्र; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying ‘तपः’

• स्थाने: in the place
• स्थाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative singular

• शिवकल्पिते: ordained by Śiva
• शिवकल्पिते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + कल्पित (प्रातिपदिक; √कॢप्/कल्प् + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (तृतीया/करण-सम्बन्ध): ‘शिवेन कल्पिते’ = arranged by Śiva; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; agrees with ‘स्थाने अस्मिन्’

• निवृत्त्य: having withdrawn/ceased
• निवृत्त्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) from √वृत् with उपसर्ग नि; indeclinable

• निखिलान्: all, entire
• निखिलान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; accusative plural qualifying ‘कामान्’

• कामान्: desires
• कामान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; accusative plural

• शम्भुम्: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular

• आश्रितया: having taken refuge in
• आश्रितया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) from √श्रि with उपसर्ग आ; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental singular agreeing with ‘त्वया’ (i.e., ‘you who have taken refuge’)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental singular

Speaker

Vijayā

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Aruṇācala

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pārvatī

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Pārvatī begins/continues severe tapas at Arunāchala—matted hair, austere posture, minimal ornaments—while Śiva’s unseen ordinance sanctifies the spot; the hill radiates protective fire-like aura.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Śambhu)
• Pārvatī (Gaurī)
• Vijayā
• Aruṇācala (implied ‘this place’)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Austerity bears fruit when grounded in refuge in Śiva and accompanied by withdrawal from desire.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Aruṇācala, portrayed as the Śiva-appointed place for completing tapas.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Completion of tapas in the ordained sacred place, together with disciplined renunciation of desires.