Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

शुचिः पूर्णो मोक्षमार्गदाता भोक्ता महेश्वरः । धन्वंतरिः प्रियाभाषी धनुर्वेदविदेकराट

Transliteration

śuciḥ pūrṇo mokṣamārgadātā bhoktā maheśvaraḥ | dhanvaṃtariḥ priyābhāṣī dhanurvedavidekarāṭa

Translation

พระองค์ทรงบริสุทธิ์และสมบูรณ์ ทรงประทานหนทางสู่โมกษะ ทรงเป็นผู้เสวยเครื่องบูชายัญ เป็นมหेशวร พระองค์คือธันวันตริ แพทย์แห่งโลก ผู้มีวาจาไพเราะ และเป็นมหาราชาไร้ผู้เทียบผู้รู้ธนุรเวท ศาสตร์แห่งธนู

Word by Word

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पूर्णः: complete; full
• पूर्णः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (कृदन्त; पूर् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मोक्षमार्गदाता: giver of the path to liberation
• मोक्षमार्गदाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + दाता (कृदन्त; दा धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (तृ-प्रत्ययान्त ‘दाता’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (मोक्षस्य मार्गं ददाति)

• भोक्ता: enjoyer; experiencer
• भोक्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (तृ-प्रत्ययान्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महेश्वरः: the Great Lord
• महेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् ईश्वरः)

• धन्वंतरिः: Dhanvantari
• धन्वंतरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्वन्तरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रियाभाषी: sweet-spoken
• प्रियाभाषी: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + भाषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (प्रियं भाषते)

• धनुर्वेदविद्: knower of the science of archery
• धनुर्वेदविद्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धनुर्वेदस्य विद् = ज्ञाता)

• एकराट्: sole sovereign
• एकराट्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + राज्/राट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (एकः राट् = एकच्छत्र-राजा)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Deity depicted as Mahā-īśvara with healing attributes of Dhanvantari (amṛta-kalaśa, herbs) and martial dhanurveda (bow) harmonized; a path or stairway symbolizing mokṣa-mārga; devotees receiving both medicine and blessing.

Characters & Entities

• Sūrya
• Maheśvara
• Dhanvantari
• Dhanurveda

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Sun is both worldly sustainer and spiritual guide—supporting health, righteous power, and ultimately the path toward liberation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse elevates Sūrya through titles connecting healing, lordship, and mokṣa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual; “bhoktā” implies the Vedic-sacrificial worldview where the deity receives offerings, while devotional recitation remains the practical takeaway.