Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

तौ सदा सर्वगात्रेषु रुद्राक्षकृतभूषणौ । विचेरतुरुदारांगौ सततं भस्मधारिणौ

Transliteration

tau sadā sarvagātreṣu rudrākṣakṛtabhūṣaṇau | viceraturudārāṃgau satataṃ bhasmadhāriṇau

Translation

அவர்கள் எப்போதும் உடலின் எல்லா அங்கங்களிலும் ருத்ராட்ச மாலைகளால் அலங்கரித்திருந்தனர். உயர்ந்த உடலமைப்புடன், எந்நேரமும் விபூதி (பஸ்மம்) தரித்து உலாவினர்।

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• सर्वगात्रेषु: on all limbs
• सर्वगात्रेषु: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि गात्राणि)

• रुद्राक्षकृतभूषणौ: adorned with ornaments made of rudrākṣa beads
• रुद्राक्षकृतभूषणौ: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्राक्ष + कृत + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचन (qualifying tau); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रुद्राक्षैः कृतानि भूषणानि यस्य/ययोः)

• विचेरतुः: they wandered, moved about
• विचेरतुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्ष-भूत/परफेक्ट); प्रथमपुरुष; द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• उदाराङ्गौ: having noble/beautiful limbs
• उदाराङ्गौ: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदार + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचन (qualifying tau); समासः—कर्मधारयः (उदाराणि अङ्गानि)

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सततम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• भस्मधारिणौ: wearing sacred ash
• भस्मधारिणौ: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; द्विवचन (qualifying tau); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भस्म धारयतः)

Speaker

Unknown (narrative voice within Brahmottara Khaṇḍa; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa addressing sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two noble youths walking with confidence, bodies adorned with rudrākṣa beads on arms/neck/chest and smeared with sacred ash; a subtle aura of ascetic discipline within royal life.

Characters & Entities

• Rudrākṣa
• Bhasma (sacred ash)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A Shaiva life is portrayed through visible ācāra—rudrākṣa adornment and bhasma-dhāraṇa—signs of continual devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is mentioned; the verse focuses on Shaiva observance as a lived practice.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

To wear rudrākṣas (as ornaments) and to bear sacred ash (bhasma), implying regular Shaiva marking such as Tripuṇḍra.