Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 139

Devanagari script

अकस्माज्जन्ममरणं कीटादीनां तथाविधम् । वर्षाशीतातपैर्दुःखं सुकष्टं मृगपक्षिणाम्

Transliteration

akasmājjanmamaraṇaṃ kīṭādīnāṃ tathāvidham | varṣāśītātapairduḥkhaṃ sukaṣṭaṃ mṛgapakṣiṇām

Translation

Bagi serangga dan seumpamanya, kelahiran dan kematian datang tiba-tiba demikian. Bagi rusa dan burung, penderitaan amat berat—diseksa oleh hujan, dingin, dan panas terik yang membakar.

Word by Word

• अकस्मात्: suddenly
• अकस्मात्: Kriyavisheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अकस्मात् (अव्यय)
• Form: निमित्त/आकस्मिकत्ववाचक-अव्यय (adverb: suddenly)

• जन्ममरणम्: birth and death
• जन्ममरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कीटादीनाम्: of insects and the like
• कीटादीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीट (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आदि-समास: 'कीट-आदि'); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• तथाविधम्: of that kind, such
• तथाविधम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तथा (अव्यय) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with जन्ममरणम्

• वर्षाशीतातपैः: by rain, cold, and heat
• वर्षाशीतातपैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + शीत (प्रातिपदिक) + आतप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग (आतप-प्रधान), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• दुःखम्: suffering
• दुःखम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सुकष्टम्: very grievous
• सुकष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सु-कष्ट); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with दुःखम्

• मृगपक्षिणाम्: of beasts and birds
• मृगपक्षिणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

Speaker

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

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Mother (Pārvatī/Umā)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Tiny insects perish abruptly; deer and birds endure alternating rain, biting cold, and scorching sun—three seasonal forces personified as relentless tormentors over a vulnerable landscape.

Characters & Entities

• Kīṭa
• Mṛga
• Pakṣin

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Life in lower births is fragile and exposed to relentless hardship, highlighting the urgency of righteous living and spiritual aim.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.