Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 160

Devanagari script

तिस्रो रात्रीर्न शक्तश्चेदेवं माहेश्वरो भवेत् । संयावकृशरामांसं नात्मानमुपसाधयेत्

Transliteration

tisro rātrīrna śaktaścedevaṃ māheśvaro bhavet | saṃyāvakṛśarāmāṃsaṃ nātmānamupasādhayet

Translation

മൂന്നു രാത്രികൾ ഈ നിയമം പാലിക്കാൻ കഴിയാതിരുന്നാലും, ഇങ്ങനെ അവൻ മാഹേശ്വരനായി കണക്കാക്കപ്പെടാം. എന്നാൽ സംയാവം, കൃശരാ, മാംസം മുതലായ സമൃദ്ധഭക്ഷണങ്ങളാൽ സ്വയം ലാളിക്കരുത്.

Word by Word

• तिस्रः: three
• तिस्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• रात्रीः: nights
• रात्रीः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• शक्तः: able
• शक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘समर्थः’

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तबोधक-अव्यय (conditional particle: if)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• माहेश्वरः: a devotee of Maheśvara (Śiva)
• माहेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संयाव-कृशर-मांसम्: sweet rice, khichdi, and meat
• संयाव-कृशर-मांसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयाव (प्रातिपदिक) + कृशर (प्रातिपदिक) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (संयावश्च कृशरश्च मांसं च)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• आत्मानम्: oneself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उपसाधयेत्: should not indulge/occupy oneself (with)
• उपसाधयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√साध् (धातु) (णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: ‘cause to be accomplished/indulge in’)

Speaker

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

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee declines rich dishes (sweet saṃyāva, kṛśarā, meat) offered by a well-meaning host, choosing a simple meal; a subtle aura of Śiva devotion marks him as Māheśvara.

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Austerity should be sincere and moderate—adapt practice to capacity, but avoid self-indulgence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the instruction concerns general Śaiva vrata and diet.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

If unable to keep a three-night observance, follow a permissible alternative, while avoiding indulgent foods like sweets, kṛśarā, and meat.