Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

उन्मीलद्भालनयनं तथा सूर्येंदुलोचनम् । नीलकंठं चतुर्बाहुं गजेंद्राजिनवाससम्

Transliteration

unmīladbhālanayanaṃ tathā sūryeṃdulocanam | nīlakaṃṭhaṃ caturbāhuṃ gajeṃdrājinavāsasam

Translation

ഭാലനേത്രം ഉന്മീലിക്കുന്നവൻ, സൂര്യനും ചന്ദ്രനും നേത്രങ്ങളായുള്ളവൻ; നീലകണ്ഠൻ, ചതുര്ബാഹു, ഗജേന്ദ്രചർമ്മം വസ്ത്രമായി ധരിച്ച പ്രഭുവിനെ ധ്യാനിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• उन्मीलद्भालनयनम्: whose forehead-eye is opening
• उन्मीलद्भालनयनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्मीलत् (उद्-√मील् धातु; शतृ) + भाल + नयन (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उन्मीलत् भाल-नयनम्—forehead-eye opening)

• तथा: and also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपमानवाचक (also/likewise)

• सूर्येन्दुलोचनम्: whose eyes are the sun and the moon
• सूर्येन्दुलोचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य + इन्दु + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (सूर्यश्च इन्दुश्च—तयोः लोचने यस्य)

• नीलकण्ठम्: the blue-throated one
• नीलकण्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (नीलः कण्ठः यस्य)

• चतुर्बाहुम्: four-armed
• चतुर्बाहुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (चत्वारः बाहवः यस्य)

• गजेन्द्राजिनवाससम्: wearing the elephant-king’s hide as garment
• गजेन्द्राजिनवाससम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गज-इन्द्र + अजिन + वासस् (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गजेन्द्रस्य अजिनं वासः यस्य)

Speaker

Unknown (contextual narrator within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva with the third eye opening on the forehead, sun and moon as eyes, blue throat, four arms; clad in the hide of a mighty elephant—simultaneously cosmic and formidable.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Īśa)
• Sūrya
• Candra (Indu)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva is the all-seeing Lord (sun and moon eyes) whose awakened third eye signifies transcendent knowledge and the power to dissolve ignorance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named; the verse supplies a contemplative form for Śiva worship.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Meditation on Śiva’s third eye, sun-moon eyes, blue throat, four arms, and ascetic attire.