Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

न च पश्यति निर्द्धारं प्रश्नस्यास्य कथंचन । ततः प्रश्नेन विजिता स्वां शक्तिं समुपाददे

Transliteration

na ca paśyati nirddhāraṃ praśnasyāsya kathaṃcana | tataḥ praśnena vijitā svāṃ śaktiṃ samupādade

Translation

ਉਹ ਉਸ ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਨ ਦਾ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਿਸਚਿਤ ਨਿਰਣਯ ਨਾ ਕਰ ਸਕੀ; ਪ੍ਰਸ਼ਨ ਤੋਂ ਪਰਾਜਿਤ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਜਾਗ੍ਰਤ ਕੀਤਾ।

Word by Word

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पश्यति: sees/finds
• पश्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• निर्धारम्: a decision/definite conclusion
• निर्धारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रश्नस्य: of the question
• प्रश्नस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रश्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• कथंचन: in any way; at all
• कथंचन: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथंचन (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb), ‘कथम्’ + ‘चन’ (emphatic/indefinite)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक अव्यय (ablatival adverb: from then/there)

• प्रश्नेन: by the question
• प्रश्नेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रश्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विजिता: conquered/overcome
• विजिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + जि (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वाम्: her own
• स्वाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शक्तिम्: power; energy
• शक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• समुपाददे: took up/assumed
• समुपाददे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उप + आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya sages (frame implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Bhaimī, having failed to decide, straightens with sudden determination; aura intensifies, hands poised as if to initiate a supernatural act near the swing.

Characters & Entities

• Śakti (as personal power)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When ordinary reasoning fails, the narrative turns to śakti—suggesting hidden forces and consequences behind adharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; it mentions summoning power, not a formal rite.