Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

मज्जंतं तारयत्येको हरः संसारसागरात् । दानं वृत्तं व्रतं वाचः कीर्तिधर्मौ तथायुषः

Transliteration

majjaṃtaṃ tārayatyeko haraḥ saṃsārasāgarāt | dānaṃ vṛttaṃ vrataṃ vācaḥ kīrtidharmau tathāyuṣaḥ

Translation

സംസാരസാഗരത്തിൽ മുങ്ങുന്നവനെ ഹരൻ (ശിവൻ) ഒരുത്തൻ മാത്രം കരകയറ്റുന്നു. ദാനം, സദാചാരം, വ്രതങ്ങൾ, വാക്കുസംയമം, കീർത്തി, ധർമ്മം, ആയുസ്സും അവന്റെ ശരണത്താൽ സിദ്ധമാകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• मज्जन्तम्: one who is sinking
• मज्जन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मज्जत् (कृदन्त; √मज्ज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle)

• तारयति: saves, ferries across
• तारयति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एकः: alone, one
• एकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संसारसागरात्: from the ocean of worldly existence
• संसारसागरात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार + सागर (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (संसारस्य सागरः)

• दानम्: charity, giving
• दानम्: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वृत्तम्: conduct, good behavior
• वृत्तम्: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्रतम्: vow, observance
• व्रतम्: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वाचः: of speech; words
• वाचः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (वाचः = वाचः/वाचः)

• कीर्तिधर्मौ: fame and righteousness
• कीर्तिधर्मौ: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति + धर्म (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (कीर्तिः च धर्मः च)

• तथा: and also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• आयुषः: of life, lifespan
• आयुषः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee sinking in a dark, wave-tossed ocean labeled ‘saṃsāra’ is lifted by Hara’s outstretched hand; around them float symbols of dāna (gift-vessel), vrata (rosary/fasting mark), vāg-niyama (sealed lips), and dharma (balance/śāstra).

Characters & Entities

• Hara
• Śiva
• Saṃsāra
• Dāna
• Vrata
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva (Hara) is proclaimed as the sole savior from saṃsāra, while dharmic practices like charity and vows support a righteous and meaningful life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is named; the verse emphasizes devotion to Śiva and dharmic living in general.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dāna (charity) and vrata (religious vows/observances) are explicitly mentioned, along with right conduct and disciplined speech.