Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

अद्यैव भव दुबुर्द्धे वलीपलितसंयुतः । जराजर्ज्जरितांगश्च तुच्छदृष्टिर्विरंगितः

Transliteration

adyaiva bhava duburddhe valīpalitasaṃyutaḥ | jarājarjjaritāṃgaśca tucchadṛṣṭirviraṃgitaḥ

Translation

ಓ ದುರ್ಬುದ್ಧಿಯೇ! ಇಂದೇ ನೀನು ಮಡಚುಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಬಿಳಿ ಕೂದಲಿನಿಂದ ಯುಕ್ತನಾಗು; ವೃದ್ಧಾಪ್ಯದಿಂದ ಅಂಗಗಳು ಜರ್ಜರವಾಗಲಿ, ದೃಷ್ಟಿ ಕ್ಷೀಣವಾಗಲಿ, ವರ್ಣ ಮಂಗಲಿ।

Word by Word

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Nipata (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• भव: become
• भव: Kriya (Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• दुबुर्द्धे: O evil-minded one
• दुबुर्द्धे: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• वलीपलितसंयुतः: endowed with wrinkles and gray hair
• वलीपलितसंयुतः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective of 'you')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वली (प्रातिपदिक) + पलित (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वलीपलिताभ्यां संयुतः/युक्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (त्वम्)

• जराजर्ज्जरिताङ्गः: whose limbs are worn out by old age
• जराजर्ज्जरिताङ्गः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जरा (प्रातिपदिक) + जर्जरित (कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (जरया जर्जरितानि अङ्गानि यस्य सः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तुच्छदृष्टिः: of paltry vision; mean-sighted
• तुच्छदृष्टिः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक) + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (तुच्छा दृष्टिः यस्य सः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विरङ्गितः: discolored; faded
• विरङ्गितः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+रञ्ज् (धातु) → विरङ्गित (कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Menakā

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The curse paints a vivid transformation: the sage’s hair turns grey, skin wrinkles, posture stoops, eyes dim; Menakā’s fierce expression contrasts with the sudden frailty appearing in him.

Characters & Entities

• Menakā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It portrays the immediate karmic force of a śāpa within Purāṇic storytelling and the fragility of youth and beauty.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is mentioned in the verse; it is part of the episode that frames the chapter’s tīrtha significance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.