Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

तौ सदा सर्वगात्रेषु रुद्राक्षकृतभूषणौ । विचेरतुरुदारांगौ सततं भस्मधारिणौ

Transliteration

tau sadā sarvagātreṣu rudrākṣakṛtabhūṣaṇau | viceraturudārāṃgau satataṃ bhasmadhāriṇau

Translation

وہ ہمیشہ اپنے تمام اعضا پر رودراکْش کے زیور پہنے رہتے تھے۔ عالی ہیکل تھے اور نِتّ بھسم (مقدس راکھ) لگائے ہوئے گھومتے پھرتے تھے۔

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.