Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । किमर्थं भूय एव त्वं नियमं क्रूरमिच्छसि । आहाराभिमुखो दैत्य तन्मे ब्रूहि महाव्रतः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | kimarthaṃ bhūya eva tvaṃ niyamaṃ krūramicchasi | āhārābhimukho daitya tanme brūhi mahāvrataḥ

Translation

Brahmā dit : «Pour quelle raison désires-tu encore une austère discipline ? Ô Daitya, maintenant que tu te tournes vers la nourriture, dis-le-moi, ô toi au grand vœu.»

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• किमर्थम्: for what reason? why?
• किमर्थम्: Hetu/Prayojana (Reason/Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable interrogative adverb); समासः—तत्पुरुष (कस्य अर्थः → किमर्थम्)

• भूयः: again, further
• भूयः: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (Nipāta)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphasis)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc. by context), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); सर्वनाम

• नियमम्: vow, observance, restraint
• नियमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• क्रूरम्: cruel, harsh
• क्रूरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (qualifying)

• इच्छसि: you desire
• इच्छसि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular)

• आहाराभिमुखः: facing/intent on food
• आहाराभिमुखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आहार (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (आहारस्य अभिमुखः)

• दैत्य: O Daitya (demon)
• दैत्य: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• तत्: that (matter)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); सर्वनाम

• मे: to me / of me
• मे: Sampradana/Relation (to me)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular); सर्वनाम

• ब्रूहि: tell
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular)

• महाव्रतः: one of great vow
• महाव्रतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); समासः—कर्मधारय (महच्च तत् व्रतम्)

Speaker

Brahmā

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā questions the Daitya: why seek harsh discipline again, especially now inclined toward food; the Daitya stands restrained, the tension between asceticism and appetite visible.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Daitya (Diti-nandana/Vajrāṅga)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even ascetic discipline must be examined for motive; divine wisdom questions severity undertaken for destructive ends.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse is part of a doctrinal dialogue on austerity.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Niyama (austerity/observance) and the theme of food-restraint are referenced, but no detailed vrata procedure is given here.