Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 196

Devanagari script

बहुत्वे नास्ति मे कार्यं मह्या वै सुरसूदन । प्रवेशमात्रमुटजं तथा मम भविष्यति

Transliteration

bahutve nāsti me kāryaṃ mahyā vai surasūdana | praveśamātramuṭajaṃ tathā mama bhaviṣyati

Translation

Não preciso de muita terra, ó matador de demônios. Bastar-me-á uma cabana de eremita, apenas com espaço para entrar.

Word by Word

• बहुत्वे: in abundance / in muchness
• बहुत्वे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहुत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरणे (locative of state)

• न: not
• न: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे (genitive)

• कार्यं: need / task
• कार्यं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विधेय/कर्मभावे

• मह्या: by me / for me
• मह्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/सहभावे (instrumental)

• वै: indeed
• वै: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• सुरसूदन: O slayer of the gods
• सुरसूदन: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + सूदन (प्रातिपदिक); सूदन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक from √सूद्/√सूदय्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सुराणां सूदनः)

• प्रवेशमात्रम्: only entry / mere entrance
• प्रवेशमात्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवेश + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रवेश एव मात्रम्)

• उटजम्: hut
• उटजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उटज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• तथा: thus / likewise
• तथा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• मम: my / of me
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Vāmana

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A young ascetic (Vāmana) stands before King Bali, requesting only a tiny plot—just enough for the entrance-space of a hut; Bali listens with regal composure in a sacrificial setting.

Characters & Entities

• Vāmana
• Bali

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Restraint and simplicity are marks of spiritual intent; the seeker asks only what supports dharma, not excess.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedārakhaṇḍa’s overarching narrative is tied to Kedāra-kṣetra; this verse focuses on ascetic simplicity within the story.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None explicitly; it frames the spirit in which dāna should be requested—minimal and purposeful.