Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 58

Devanagari script

पापिनां यमनं चैवमेतद्रूपं महत्तरम् । सौम्यरूपं कथं जातमेतन्मे संशयः प्रभो

Transliteration

pāpināṃ yamanaṃ caivametadrūpaṃ mahattaram | saumyarūpaṃ kathaṃ jātametanme saṃśayaḥ prabho

Translation

പാപികളെ ദമിപ്പാൻ നിങ്ങളുടെ ഈ രൂപം അത്യന്തം ഭയങ്കരമാണ്. എന്നാൽ ഈ സൗമ്യരൂപം എങ്ങനെ ഉദിച്ചു? പ്രഭോ, ഇതാണ് എന്റെ സംശയം.

Word by Word

• पापिनाम्: of sinners
• पापिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• यमनम्: restraining/punishing (act/state)
• यमनम्: Karma/Predicate (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• एतत्-रूपम्: this form
• एतत्-रूपम्: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (एतस्य रूपम्)

• महत्तरम्: greater
• महत्तरम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्ययान्त (comparative)

• सौम्य-रूपम्: gentle form
• सौम्य-रूपम्: Karta/Predicate (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सौम्यं तत् रूपम्)

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• जातम्: has become/arisen
• जातम्: Kriya/Predicate (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संकेतवाचक सर्वनाम

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th) एकवचन (enclitic)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

Speaker

Nārada

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages (implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Nārada points to the paradox: the same lord known for terrifying restraint of sinners now appears gentle; the scene emphasizes facial expression shift—softened eyes, relaxed posture.

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Yama
• Yamarāja
• Dharmarāja

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine functions are multifaceted: the same power that disciplines can also appear gentle when dharma’s purpose is fulfilled.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is specified in this verse; it continues the narrative inquiry that contextualizes Dharmāraṇya’s teaching.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse centers on theological doubt regarding Yama’s appearance.