Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य शंभोर्निरामयं निःस्पृहनिष्ठुरं वा । तपस्विनोक्तं वचनं निशम्य उवाच गौरी च विहस्य शंभुम्

Transliteration

etacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya śaṃbhornirāmayaṃ niḥspṛhaniṣṭhuraṃ vā | tapasvinoktaṃ vacanaṃ niśamya uvāca gaurī ca vihasya śaṃbhum

Translation

Entendant les paroles de Śambhu — paisibles, sans désir, et même sévères — Gaurī, après avoir écouté l’énoncé de l’ascète, parla en souriant à Śambhu.

Word by Word

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having heard)

• vacanam: speech; words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• śaṃbhoḥ: of Śambhu
• śaṃbhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• nirāmayam: faultless; free from ailment
• nirāmayam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir- (उपसर्ग) + āmaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्/निर्-प्रयोग (free from illness/blemish)

• niḥspṛha: desireless
• niḥspṛha: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nis- (उपसर्ग) + spṛhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्ग-निषेधार्थ (desireless)

• niṣṭhuram: harsh
• niṣṭhuram: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣṭhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• vā: or
• vā: Connector (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle of alternative: 'or/indeed')

• tapasvinā: by the ascetic
• tapasvinā: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-निर्देशक/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapasvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• uktam: spoken
• uktam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि (spoken/said)

• vacanam: speech; words
• vacanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√śam (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष (absolutive), अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having listened/heard)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• gaurī: Gaurī
• gaurī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vihasya: having smiled/laughed
• vihasya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√has (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा/ल्यप् (absolutive), अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having laughed/smiled)

• śaṃbhum: Śambhu
• śaṃbhum: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa-tradition)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedāranātha

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Gaurī smiles as she responds to Śambhu’s stern, desireless words; Śiva remains composed, ascetic, and untroubled—two complementary divine moods in one frame.

Characters & Entities

• Śambhu
• Śiva
• Gaurī
• Pārvatī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True tapas expresses itself as inner freedom—calm, desirelessness, and firmness—yet it invites discerning dialogue.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedārakhaṇḍa provides the Kedāra tīrtha setting; this verse focuses on the Śiva–Pārvatī exchange rather than a site-panegyric.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it highlights the ascetic quality (tapasvin) and disposition of detachment.