Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

त उचुः । शापभ्रष्टा वयं ब्रह्मंश्चत्वारोऽपि स्वकर्मणा । तन्मुक्तिसाधनार्थाय स्थानं किंचित्समादिश

Transliteration

ta ucuḥ | śāpabhraṣṭā vayaṃ brahmaṃścatvāro'pi svakarmaṇā | tanmuktisādhanārthāya sthānaṃ kiṃcitsamādiśa

Translation

അവർ പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ ബ്രാഹ്മണാ, ഞങ്ങളുടെ സ്വന്തം കർമ്മഫലമായി ശാപവശാൽ ഞങ്ങൾ നാലുപേരും മുൻസ്ഥിതിയിൽ നിന്ന് പതിതരായി. അതിനാൽ ആ അവസ്ഥയിൽ നിന്ന് മോചനസാധനമായ ഒരു സ്ഥലം ഞങ്ങൾക്ക് ഉപദേശിക്കണമേ.

Word by Word

• त: they
• त: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शापभ्रष्टाः: fallen due to a curse
• शापभ्रष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाप (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रष्ट (भ्रंश् धातु; क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः (शापेन भ्रष्टाः)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin / O venerable one
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• अपि: also / even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• स्वकर्मणा: by our own deed
• स्वकर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य कर्म)

• तन्मुक्तिसाधनार्थाय: for the purpose of the means to that liberation
• तन्मुक्तिसाधनार्थाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + साधन (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य मुक्तेः साधनस्य अर्थाय)

• स्थानम्: a place
• स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• किञ्चित्: some / a certain
• किञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अनिश्चितपरिमाणवाचक; ‘स्थानम्’ इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• समादिश: please instruct / prescribe
• समादिश: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Residents/foremost ones of Nāḍījaṅgha (petitioners)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Lomaśa (addressed as brahman)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Four afflicted beings approach a sage with folded hands, faces marked by sorrow and hope; they confess their fall due to a curse and beg for a liberating place.

Characters & Entities

• Brahman (addressed sage)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even when suffering the results of karma and curse, one can seek remedial paths through dharmic guidance and sacred places.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A liberating “place” is requested; the ensuing verses will direct them toward Kāśī via Saṃvarta.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific rite is prescribed here; the request is for guidance toward a liberating sacred location.