Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 160

Devanagari script

तिस्रो रात्रीर्न शक्तश्चेदेवं माहेश्वरो भवेत् । संयावकृशरामांसं नात्मानमुपसाधयेत्

Transliteration

tisro rātrīrna śaktaścedevaṃ māheśvaro bhavet | saṃyāvakṛśarāmāṃsaṃ nātmānamupasādhayet

Translation

Kung hindi niya kayang tuparin ang disiplina sa loob ng tatlong gabi, sa ganitong paraan maaari pa rin siyang ituring na Māheśvara. Ngunit huwag niyang palayawin ang sarili sa masasarap at marangyang pagkain gaya ng saṃyāva, kṛśarā, at karne.

Word by Word

• तिस्रः: three
• तिस्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• रात्रीः: nights
• रात्रीः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• शक्तः: able
• शक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘समर्थः’

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (Condition/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तबोधक-अव्यय (conditional particle: if)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• माहेश्वरः: a devotee of Maheśvara (Śiva)
• माहेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संयाव-कृशर-मांसम्: sweet rice, khichdi, and meat
• संयाव-कृशर-मांसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयाव (प्रातिपदिक) + कृशर (प्रातिपदिक) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (संयावश्च कृशरश्च मांसं च)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• आत्मानम्: oneself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उपसाधयेत्: should not indulge/occupy oneself (with)
• उपसाधयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√साध् (धातु) (णिच्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: ‘cause to be accomplished/indulge in’)

Speaker

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

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotee declines rich dishes (sweet saṃyāva, kṛśarā, meat) offered by a well-meaning host, choosing a simple meal; a subtle aura of Śiva devotion marks him as Māheśvara.

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Austerity should be sincere and moderate—adapt practice to capacity, but avoid self-indulgence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the instruction concerns general Śaiva vrata and diet.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

If unable to keep a three-night observance, follow a permissible alternative, while avoiding indulgent foods like sweets, kṛśarā, and meat.