Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

चंद्रलेखावतंसाश्च नीलकंठास्त्रिलोचनाः । हारकुंडलकेयूरमुकुटाद्यैरलंकृताः

Transliteration

caṃdralekhāvataṃsāśca nīlakaṃṭhāstrilocanāḥ | hārakuṃḍalakeyūramukuṭādyairalaṃkṛtāḥ

Translation

彼らは三日月の印を飾りとして戴き、青き喉をもち三つの眼を備え、首飾り・耳飾り・腕輪・宝冠などの荘厳で身を飾っていた。

Word by Word

• चन्द्रलेखावतंसाः: having moon-crescent ornaments
• चन्द्रलेखावतंसाः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र + लेखा + अवतंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण; बहुव्रीहिः (चन्द्रलेखा अवतंसः येषाम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• नीलकण्ठाः: blue-throated
• नीलकण्ठाः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण; बहुव्रीहिः (नीलः कण्ठः येषाम्)

• त्रिलोचनाः: three-eyed
• त्रिलोचनाः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण; बहुव्रीहिः (त्रीणि लोचनानि येषाम्)

• हारकुण्डलकेयूरमुकुटाद्यैः: with garlands, earrings, armlets, crowns, etc.
• हारकुण्डलकेयूरमुकुटाद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हार + कुण्डल + केयूर + मुकुट + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (हार-कुण्डल-केयूर-मुकुट-आदि)

• अलंकृताः: adorned
• अलंकृताः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलङ्कृ (धातु) → अलंकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण; भूतकृदन्तः: √अलङ्कृ (to adorn) + क्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close-up iconographic tableau: gaṇas adorned like Śiva—crescent ornaments, blue throats, three eyes—wearing necklaces, earrings, armlets, and crowns; a radiant, ornamented divine court.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇeśvaras
• Crescent moon (candralekhā)
• Nīlakaṇṭha (blue-throated)
• Trilocana (three-eyed)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The gaṇas mirror Śiva’s own marks (crescent, blue throat, three eyes), teaching that closeness to the Lord transforms devotees into reflections of divine qualities.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse focuses on Śaiva iconography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is purely descriptive.