Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

भीम उवाच । किमेतद्भाषसे क्रूर परुषं राक्षसाधम । यतस्तोयानि जंतूनामुपभो गार्थमेव हि

Transliteration

bhīma uvāca | kimetadbhāṣase krūra paruṣaṃ rākṣasādhama | yatastoyāni jaṃtūnāmupabho gārthameva hi

Translation

भीम बोले—हे क्रूर राक्षसाधम! तू ऐसे कठोर वचन क्यों बोलता है? जल तो प्राणियों के उपभोग और जीवन-धारण के लिए ही है।

Word by Word

• भीमः: Bhīma
• भीमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• भाषसे: you speak
• भाषसे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

• क्रूर: O cruel one
• क्रूर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• परुषम्: harsh (speech)
• परुषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• राक्षसाधम: O lowest of rākṣasas
• राक्षसाधम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive-determinative): 'राक्षसानाम् अधमः'

• यतः: since/from which
• यतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), सम्बन्ध/हेतु-अर्थे (relative adverb: 'since/from which')

• तोयानि: waters
• तोयानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• जन्तूनाम्: of beings/creatures
• जन्तूनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• उपभोगार्थम्: for enjoyment/use
• उपभोगार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपभोग (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (purpose): 'उपभोगस्य अर्थः'

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक (particle of emphasis/only)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक (causal/emphatic particle)

Speaker

Bhīma

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: tirtha

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Bhīma confronts a rākṣasa with stern gesture near a water-source; the setting suggests a sacred ford or tank where access is being contested.

Characters & Entities

• Bhīma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma includes compassion and the recognition that natural resources like water are meant to sustain living beings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No named site; the verse is part of a tīrtha-related dispute, emphasizing ethical reasoning within a sacred setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; it challenges harsh prohibitions by appealing to the universal purpose of water.