Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 73

Devanagari script

अथ महर्षिरुपागतकौतुको निजतपःफलमेव तदागमम् । शिवदयाकलितं परिचिन्तयन्नभजदाश्रममाश्रितवत्सलः

Transliteration

atha maharṣirupāgatakautuko nijatapaḥphalameva tadāgamam | śivadayākalitaṃ paricintayannabhajadāśramamāśritavatsalaḥ

Translation

Alors le grand sage, saisi d’un émerveillement fervent, songea que sa venue était bien le fruit de ses propres austérités, mais façonnée par la compassion de Śiva. Plein de tendresse pour ceux qui cherchent refuge, il entra dans son ermitage.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Vakya-sambandha (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/particle)

• महर्षिः: the great sage
• महर्षिः: Karta (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उपागतकौतुकः: whose curiosity had arisen
• उपागतकौतुकः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-आ-गम् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) + कौतुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः—उपागतं कौतुकं यस्य (whose curiosity has arisen)

• निजतपःफलम्: the fruit of his own austerity
• निजतपःफलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• आगमम्: arrival; coming
• आगमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + घञ् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिवदयाकलितम्: brought about by Śiva’s compassion
• शिवदयाकलितम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + दया (प्रातिपदिक) + कलित (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (past participle) used adjectivally

• परिचिन्तयन्: reflecting; considering
• परिचिन्तयन्: Karta (कर्तृ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अभजत्: resorted to; went to
• अभजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• आश्रमम्: the hermitage
• आश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आश्रितवत्सलः: kind to those who seek refuge
• आश्रितवत्सलः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आश्रित (कृदन्त) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण—आश्रितेषु वत्सलः (affectionate to dependents)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Aruṇācala-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The great sage, inwardly delighted yet humble, contemplates: ‘This is my tapas’ fruit, but truly shaped by Śiva’s compassion.’ With a gentle, protective demeanor toward refugees and disciples, he steps into the transformed hermitage.

Characters & Entities

• Mahārṣi (Gautama implied)
• Śiva
• Devī (implied)
• Āśrama

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual attainments arise from tapas, but their highest fulfillment is granted and refined by Śiva’s grace; the saintly protect and welcome those who seek refuge.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Aruṇācala Māhātmya setting frames the event as part of Aruṇācala’s grace-filled sacred landscape.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct rite is prescribed; the verse emphasizes tapas (austerity) and recognition of Śiva’s dayā (mercy) as the source of auspicious visitation.