Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 150

Devanagari script

राजहंसो यथा शुद्धः काकामेध्यप्रदर्शकः । श्रृणु मातर्यत्र संस्थो रमेयं निरुपद्रवः

Transliteration

rājahaṃso yathā śuddhaḥ kākāmedhyapradarśakaḥ | śrṛṇu mātaryatra saṃstho rameyaṃ nirupadravaḥ

Translation

രാജഹംസം എങ്ങനെ ശുദ്ധമാണോ, കാക്കകളിലെ അശുദ്ധതയെ എങ്ങനെ വെളിപ്പെടുത്തുന്നുവോ, അതുപോലെ കേൾക്കുക, ഹേ മാതാവേ—ഞാൻ ഉപദ്രവമില്ലാതെ വസിക്കാവുന്ന സ്ഥലത്തുതന്നെ എനിക്ക് ആനന്ദം ഉണ്ടാകും.

Word by Word

• राजहंसः: the royal swan
• राजहंसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (राजा इव हंसः / राज्ञः हंसः)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/just as)

• शुद्धः: pure
• शुद्धः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying राजहंसः)

• काक-अमेध्य-प्रदर्शकः: one who points out the crow’s impurity
• काक-अमेध्य-प्रदर्शकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक) + अमेध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदर्शक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (काकस्य अमेध्यं प्रदर्शयति इति)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मातरि: O mother
• मातरि: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; वैदिक/छान्दस-रूपेण ‘मातरि’ (for ‘मातः/माते’)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (relative adverb: where)

• संस्थः: being situated; standing
• संस्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) → संस्थ (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘situated/standing’

• रमेयम्: would delight/enjoy
• रमेयम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• निरुपद्रवः: free from trouble
• निरुपद्रवः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् (उपसर्ग) + उपद्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्/निर्-प्रत्ययार्थक (without disturbance)

Speaker

Narrative quote: an unnamed seeker addressing his mother (within Sūta’s narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A luminous royal swan stands on a clear lotus lake while dark crows cluster at a muddy edge; a seeker addresses his mother, pointing toward a quiet hermitage or inner lotus-heart where no disturbance arises.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Like the haṃsa that discerns purity, the seeker longs for a state of undisturbed peace, rejecting the impure turmoil of worldly life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; “that place” is presented as an ideal state/abode of peace.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse uses allegory to teach discernment and the pursuit of peace.