Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 61

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा प्राणसमं लिंगं दग्धं वैश्यपतिस्तथा । स्वयमप्याप्तनिर्वेदो मरणाय मतिं दधौ

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā prāṇasamaṃ liṃgaṃ dagdhaṃ vaiśyapatistathā | svayamapyāptanirvedo maraṇāya matiṃ dadhau

Translation

ପ୍ରାଣସମ ପ୍ରିୟ ସେ ଲିଙ୍ଗ ଦଗ୍ଧ ହୋଇଥିବାକୁ ଦେଖି ବୈଶ୍ୟପତି ଗଭୀର ନିର୍ବେଦରେ ପଡ଼ି ମୃତ୍ୟୁକୁ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ କଲା।

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive)

• प्राणसमम्: as dear as life
• प्राणसमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्राणानां समम् = as dear as life)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दग्धम्: burnt
• दग्धम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दह् (धातु) + दग्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वैश्यपतिः: the vaiśya-lord (merchant)
• वैश्यपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वैश्यस्य पतिः = lord/husband of the vaiśya / vaiśya-chief)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (also/likewise)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta (Agent-emphasis/कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थ (oneself)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• आप्तनिर्वेदः: having attained despair/dispassion
• आप्तनिर्वेदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + निर्वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (आप्तः निर्वेदः यस्य/आप्त-निर्वेदः = having obtained dispassion)

• मरणाय: for death
• मरणाय: Sampradana (Purpose/Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (for death)

• मतिम्: intention/mind
• मतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दधौ: he resolved/placed (his mind)
• दधौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; (he) placed/formed

Speaker

Narrator (context not specified in excerpt)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The merchant-leader gazes at the burnt liṅga with hollowed eyes; his posture shifts from shock to a still, resolved dispassion—hands lowered, face set, as if life has drained away.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (as Liṅga)
• Vaiśyapati (merchant leader)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True devotion treats the emblem of the deity as one’s very life; when that sanctity is violated, remorse can become intense—guiding one toward atonement and transformation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No named site appears in this verse; the narrative centers on the Śiva-liṅga’s sacredness.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is stated; it describes the merchant’s inner resolve born of remorse.