Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 54

Devanagari script

पापोपहतबुद्धीनां शिवे वार्तापि दुर्लभा । दुर्लभं भारते जन्म दुर्लभं शिवपूजनम्

Transliteration

pāpopahatabuddhīnāṃ śive vārtāpi durlabhā | durlabhaṃ bhārate janma durlabhaṃ śivapūjanam

Translation

Pour ceux dont l’intelligence est ruinée par le péché, même entendre un seul mot au sujet de Śiva est difficile à obtenir. Rare est la naissance en Bhārata, et rare aussi l’adoration de Śiva.

Word by Word

• पापोपहतबुद्धीनाम्: of those whose intellect is struck by sin
• पापोपहतबुद्धीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप-उपहत-बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शिवे: about/in Śiva
• शिवे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वार्ता: talk, discourse
• वार्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: 'even')

• दुर्लभा: rare, hard to obtain
• दुर्लभा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• दुर्लभम्: rare
• दुर्लभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• भारते: in Bhārata (India)
• भारते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• जन्म: birth
• जन्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दुर्लभम्: rare
• दुर्लभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• शिवपूजनम्: worship of Śiva
• शिवपूजनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), deduced for Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narration

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Bhārata-varṣa (as dharma-kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two contrasted figures: one with a darkened, confused gaze (pāpa-opahata buddhi) turning away from a Śiva discourse; another attentive devotee in Bhārata receiving Śiva-kathā near a temple, emphasizing rarity and choice.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Bhārata

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sin clouds discernment; therefore even access to Śiva-kathā and Śiva-pūjā is rare—one should value and pursue devotion while human life lasts.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is specified; the verse broadly praises Bhārata as a spiritually privileged land enabling Śiva-worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Śiva-pūjana (worship of Śiva) is highlighted as a rare and precious practice.