Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

मार्कंडेयादिभिः प्राप्य कीर्त्युद्धारंच सत्तम । नायं कामयते स्वर्गं पुनःपातादिभीषणम्

Transliteration

mārkaṃḍeyādibhiḥ prāpya kīrtyuddhāraṃca sattama | nāyaṃ kāmayate svargaṃ punaḥpātādibhīṣaṇam

Translation

ஹே சத்தமனே! மார்கண்டேயர் முதலியோரிடம் சென்று புகழை மீட்டெடுத்தபின்பும், மீண்டும் வீழ்வதற்கான அச்சத்தால் பயங்கரமான சொர்க்கத்தை இவன் விரும்பவில்லை.

Word by Word

• मार्कण्डेयादिभिः: by Mārkaṇḍeya and others
• मार्कण्डेयादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मार्कण्डेयः आदिः येषाम्) ‘by Mārkaṇḍeya and others’

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) → प्राप्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund); ‘having obtained/after attaining’

• कीर्त्युद्धारम्: restoration of fame
• कीर्त्युद्धारम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कीर्तेः उद्धारः) ‘restoration of fame’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सत्तम: O best one
• सत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + तमप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘O best of the good’

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• अयम्: this (man)
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कामयते: desires
• कामयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कम् (धातु) (कामय-णिजन्त)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘desires’

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुनःपातादिभीषणम्: frightful because of falling again (etc.)
• पुनःपातादिभीषणम्: Karman (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय) + पात (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + भीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पुनःपातः आदिः यस्मात् तत्) ‘frightful due to re-fall etc.’; agrees with स्वर्गम्

Speaker

Kūrma (context continues from prior verse)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: the addressed ‘sattama’ within the scene (implied revered interlocutor)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indradyumna, having met Mārkaṇḍeya and other sages, stands composed and detached; he rejects the lure of heaven, mindful of the fear of falling again.

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma
• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Svarga
• Indradyumna

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Svarga is impermanent; wise seekers prefer lasting upliftment through dharma and inner transformation over temporary celestial pleasure.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse highlights counsel/association with sages like Mārkaṇḍeya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is stated; the implied practice is seeking guidance from realized sages to restore dharmic standing.