Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

सर्वे भवन्तो दुःखार्ताः परिम्लानमुखांबुजाः । भ्रष्टायुदास्तथाऽकस्माद्भ्रष्टा भरणवाससः

Transliteration

sarve bhavanto duḥkhārtāḥ parimlānamukhāṃbujāḥ | bhraṣṭāyudāstathā'kasmādbhraṣṭā bharaṇavāsasaḥ

Translation

നിങ്ങൾ എല്ലാവരും ദുഃഖത്തിൽ പീഡിതരാണ്; നിങ്ങളുടെ താമരമുഖങ്ങൾ വാടിപ്പോയിരിക്കുന്നു. നിങ്ങളുടെ ആയുധങ്ങൾ വഴുതി വീണു; അപ്രതീക്ഷിതമായി നിങ്ങളുടെ ആഭരണങ്ങളും വസ്ത്രങ്ങളും പോലും നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടു.

Word by Word

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• bhavantaḥ: you (all), venerable ones
• bhavantaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavant (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-आदरार्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन (honorific ‘you all’)

• duḥkha-ārtāḥ: afflicted by sorrow
• duḥkha-ārtāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तृतीया/षष्ठीभावः: दुःखेन/दुःखस्य आर्ताः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• parimlāna-mukha-ambujāḥ: whose lotus-faces are withered
• parimlāna-mukha-ambujāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari (उपसर्ग) + mlā (धातु)→m lāna (क्त) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक) + ambuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (येषां मुखाम्बुजानि परिम्लानानि ते); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• bhraṣṭa-āyudāḥ: whose weapons are lost
• bhraṣṭa-āyudāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhraṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/क्त) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (येषाम् आयुधानि भ्रष्टानि ते); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• tathā: and likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमवाचक (and likewise)

• akasmāt: suddenly
• akasmāt: Kala (Manner/काल-प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: akasmāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आकस्मिकतावाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (suddenly)

• bhraṣṭāḥ: fallen, deprived
• bhraṣṭāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhraṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• bharaṇa-vāsasaḥ: deprived of supporting garments/coverings
• bharaṇa-vāsasaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: भरणस्य वाससः = garments/coverings of support); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

Speaker

Virañci (Brahmā)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Devas

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sorrowful assembly: devas with downcast eyes, wilted lotus-like faces; weapons slipping from hands; ornaments loosened; garments disarrayed—visual shorthand for tejas drained. The atmosphere is dim, as if the cosmic order has faltered.

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even the mighty can lose splendor when dharma is disturbed; recognition of decline prompts seeking rightful protection and remedy.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None in this verse; it is a narrative diagnosis of the devas’ condition.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it sets the context for identifying the cause and the corrective action.