Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 42

Devanagari script

क्षारांबुपूर्णरंध्राणां प्रवेशं मलभोजनम् । स्नायुच्छेदं स्नायुदाहमस्थिभेदनमेव च

Transliteration

kṣārāṃbupūrṇaraṃdhrāṇāṃ praveśaṃ malabhojanam | snāyucchedaṃ snāyudāhamasthibhedanameva ca

Translation

การถูกส่งเข้าไปในกายที่รูขุมขนเต็มด้วยน้ำด่าง การถูกบังคับให้กินของโสโครก การตัดเส้นเอ็น การเผาเส้นเอ็น และแม้การผ่ากระดูก—สิ่งเหล่านี้ก็ถูกกล่าวว่าเป็นทุกรกิริยาแห่งนรกเช่นกัน

Word by Word

• क्षारांबु: alkaline water
• क्षारांबु: Sambandha (Genitive-relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षार (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग); कर्मधारयः (क्षारम् अम्बु)

• पूर्ण: filled
• पूर्ण: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग; विशेषण (filled)

• रन्ध्राणाम्: of the holes/openings
• रन्ध्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रन्ध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• प्रवेशम्: entry, penetration
• प्रवेशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु) + घञ्/अन (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भाववाचक (entry/penetration)

• मलभोजनम्: eating of filth
• मलभोजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मलस्य भोजनम्)

• स्नायुच्छेदम्: cutting of tendons
• स्नायुच्छेदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नायु (प्रातिपदिक) + छेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्नायोः छेदः)

• स्नायुदाहम्: burning of tendons
• स्नायुदाहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नायु (प्रातिपदिक) + दाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्नायोः दाहः)

• अस्थिभेदनम्: breaking of bones
• अस्थिभेदनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + भेदन (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अस्थ्नः भेदनम्)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

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

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Setu Māhātmya-style narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Setukṣetra (implied frame)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Claustrophobic hell imagery: bodies with pores brimming with caustic fluid, forced ingestion of filth, sinews cut and burned, bones split—yamadūtas as relentless agents; palette of corrosive whites/greens and charred reds.

Characters & Entities

• Naraka (hell)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It underscores the severity of karmic retribution, preparing the reader for the Mahātmya’s claim that sacred merit at Setu can destroy sins and avert such outcomes.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Setu Tīrtha, whose greatness is the subject of the Setukhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; the verse continues a catalogue of naraka-duḥkhas that the Setu pilgrim is later said to avoid.