Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

जटा विमुच्य सकला भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहः । बाहुभिर्दशभिर्युक्तो हारकेयूरसंयुतः

Transliteration

jaṭā vimucya sakalā bhasmoddhūlitavigrahaḥ | bāhubhirdaśabhiryukto hārakeyūrasaṃyutaḥ

Translation

അവൻ തന്റെ സമസ്ത ജടകളും അഴിച്ചു വിട്ടു; പവിത്രഭസ്മം പുരണ്ട ദേഹത്തോടെ; ദശഭുജനായി ഹാരവും കേയൂരങ്ങളും ധരിച്ചു ശോഭിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• जटाः: matted locks
• जटाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• विमुच्य: having released
• विमुच्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि-मुच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund) = 'having released/let loose'

• सकलाः: all, entire
• सकलाः: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; जटाः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहः: whose body was dusted with ash
• भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म + उद्धूलित + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक; उद्धूलित=उद्-धूल्/धूलि-धातुज क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः—भस्मना उद्धूलितः विग्रहः यस्य

• बाहुभिः: with arms
• बाहुभिः: Karana (Accompaniment/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• दशभिः: ten
• दशभिः: Karana (Qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: (संख्यावाचक) तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; बाहुभिः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• युक्तः: endowed, furnished
• युक्तः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हारकेयूरसंयुतः: adorned with necklaces and armlets
• हारकेयूरसंयुतः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हार + केयूर + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक; संयुत=सम्-युज् क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (हार-केयूर) + तत्पुरुषः (तैः संयुतः)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; Nāgara-khaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva stands revealed: all jaṭās loosened and flowing, body smeared with sacred ash, ten arms extended in powerful yet controlled gestures; necklaces and armlets gleam against the ash-white body, suggesting both ascetic and regal splendor.

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Śiva)
• Bhasma (sacred ash)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Bhasma and divine adornments signify renunciation and sovereignty together—true holiness unites detachment with compassionate power.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse contributes to the chapter’s tīrtha-glorification by describing the Lord’s presence; the site name is not stated in this line.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; bhasma appears as a sacred marker associated with Śaiva worship.