Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

साहंकारौ युयुधतुः परस्परजिगीषया । तथा तयोर्गर्वशांत्यै योगिध्येयः सदाशिवः

Transliteration

sāhaṃkārau yuyudhatuḥ parasparajigīṣayā | tathā tayorgarvaśāṃtyai yogidhyeyaḥ sadāśivaḥ

Translation

Possédés par l’ego, tous deux combattirent, chacun voulant vaincre l’autre. Alors, pour apaiser leur orgueil, Sadāśiva—objet de la méditation des yogis—se manifesta.

Word by Word

• स-अहंकारौ: egoistic (the two)
• स-अहंकारौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अहंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘अहंकारयुक्तौ’ (endowed with ego)

• युयुधतुः: they two fought
• युयुधतुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

• परस्परजिगीषया: with mutual desire to conquer
• परस्परजिगीषया: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परस्पर + जिगीषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ/साधने (as motive/instrument): ‘with the desire to conquer each other’

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: thus/so)

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• गर्वशान्त्यै: for the calming of (their) pride
• गर्वशान्त्यै: Sampradana (Purpose/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्व + शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose): ‘for the pacification of pride’

• योगिध्येयः: meditated upon by yogins
• योगिध्येयः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योगिन् + ध्येय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘योगिभिः ध्येयः’ (to be meditated upon by yogins)

• सदाशिवः: Sadāśiva
• सदाशिवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदा + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘सदा शिवः’ (ever-auspicious)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), by Māheśvara-khaṇḍa context

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Aruṇācala

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā and Viṣṇu in heated dispute, weapons/arguments poised; above them or between them, Sadāśiva’s calm presence begins to manifest as a luminous axis, signaling the end of their pride.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (implied from prior verse)
• Viṣṇu (implied from prior verse)
• Sadāśiva
• Yogins

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ego leads even great powers into conflict; the revelation of Sadāśiva restores humility and right understanding.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Within the Arunachala Māhātmya framework, the narrative supports Arunachala as the locus of Śiva’s supreme, pride-quelling revelation.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Yogic meditation (dhyāna) on Sadāśiva is indicated, emphasizing contemplative practice alongside the mahātmya narrative.