Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 84

Devanagari script

रुद्राक्षमेकं शिरसा बिभर्ति यस्तथा त्रिपुंड्रं च ललाटमध्यके । पंचाक्षरीं ये प्रजपंति साधवः पूज्य भवद्भिश्च न चान्यथा क्वचित्

Transliteration

rudrākṣamekaṃ śirasā bibharti yastathā tripuṃḍraṃ ca lalāṭamadhyake | paṃcākṣarīṃ ye prajapaṃti sādhavaḥ pūjya bhavadbhiśca na cānyathā kvacit

Translation

Celui qui porte ne fût-ce qu’un seul rudrākṣa sur la tête, et aussi le tripuṇḍra au milieu du front ; et ces gens de bien qui récitent la mantra aux cinq syllabes (pañcākṣarī) doivent être honorés par vous, et jamais traités autrement, en aucune circonstance.

Word by Word

• rudrākṣam: a rudrākṣa bead
• rudrākṣam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra-akṣa (प्रातिपदिक; रुद्र + अक्ष)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रुद्रस्य अक्षम्)

• ekam: one
• ekam: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (rudrākṣam)

• śirasā: on the head / with the head
• śirasā: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• bibharti: wears/bears
• bibharti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus/likewise)

• tripuṃḍram: the three ash-marks (tripuṇḍra)
• tripuṃḍram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri-puṃḍra (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + पुण्ड्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः पुण्ड्राः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• lalāṭa-madhyake: in the middle of the forehead
• lalāṭa-madhyake: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lalāṭa-madhyaka (प्रातिपदिक; ललाट + मध्यक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ललाटस्य मध्यके)

• paṃcākṣarīm: the five-syllabled (mantra)
• paṃcākṣarīm: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca-akṣarī (प्रातिपदिक; पञ्च + अक्षरी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च अक्षराणि यस्याः)

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• prajapanti: recite
• prajapanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√jap (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• sādhavaḥ: the good/virtuous (people)
• sādhavaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• pūjyāḥ: to be honored/worshipped
• pūjyāḥ: Karya (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु) + ya (कृत्)
• Form: यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘पूजनीयाः’ (to be worshipped)

• bhavadbhiḥ: by you (hon.)
• bhavadbhiḥ: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• anyathā: otherwise
• anyathā: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (otherwise)

• kvacit: ever/anywhere
• kvacit: Adhikaraṇa (Time/Place/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kvacit (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (anywhere/ever)

Speaker

Yama/Kāla (instruction to messengers)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedāranātha

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Dūtas

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sādhaka with a single rudrākṣa on the head and tripuṇḍra on the forehead sits in japa; messengers bow in reverence, indicating the devotee must be honored.

Characters & Entities

• Rudrākṣa
• Tripuṇḍra
• Pañcākṣarī
• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva’s mantra and symbols are treated as sacrosanct; those devoted to them deserve reverence and protection.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader Kedārakhaṇḍa (Kedāra sacred landscape) frames the teaching, though the verse centers on Śaiva practice.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Wearing rudrākṣa and tripuṇḍra, and performing japa of the pañcākṣarī mantra (namaḥ śivāya).