Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

सर्वे भवन्तो दुःखार्ताः परिम्लानमुखांबुजाः । भ्रष्टायुदास्तथाऽकस्माद्भ्रष्टा भरणवाससः

Transliteration

sarve bhavanto duḥkhārtāḥ parimlānamukhāṃbujāḥ | bhraṣṭāyudāstathā'kasmādbhraṣṭā bharaṇavāsasaḥ

Translation

تم سب غم سے نڈھال ہو—تمہارے کنول جیسے چہرے مرجھا گئے ہیں۔ تمہارے ہتھیار ہاتھ سے چھوٹ گئے ہیں، اور اچانک تمہارے زیور اور لباس بھی گر پڑے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• bhavantaḥ: you (all), venerable ones
• bhavantaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavant (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-आदरार्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन (honorific ‘you all’)

• duḥkha-ārtāḥ: afflicted by sorrow
• duḥkha-ārtāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तृतीया/षष्ठीभावः: दुःखेन/दुःखस्य आर्ताः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• parimlāna-mukha-ambujāḥ: whose lotus-faces are withered
• parimlāna-mukha-ambujāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari (उपसर्ग) + mlā (धातु)→m lāna (क्त) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक) + ambuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (येषां मुखाम्बुजानि परिम्लानानि ते); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• bhraṣṭa-āyudāḥ: whose weapons are lost
• bhraṣṭa-āyudāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhraṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/क्त) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (येषाम् आयुधानि भ्रष्टानि ते); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• tathā: and likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमवाचक (and likewise)

• akasmāt: suddenly
• akasmāt: Kala (Manner/काल-प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: akasmāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आकस्मिकतावाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (suddenly)

• bhraṣṭāḥ: fallen, deprived
• bhraṣṭāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhraṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• bharaṇa-vāsasaḥ: deprived of supporting garments/coverings
• bharaṇa-vāsasaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: भरणस्य वाससः = garments/coverings of support); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

Speaker

Virañci (Brahmā)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Devas

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sorrowful assembly: devas with downcast eyes, wilted lotus-like faces; weapons slipping from hands; ornaments loosened; garments disarrayed—visual shorthand for tejas drained. The atmosphere is dim, as if the cosmic order has faltered.

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even the mighty can lose splendor when dharma is disturbed; recognition of decline prompts seeking rightful protection and remedy.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None in this verse; it is a narrative diagnosis of the devas’ condition.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it sets the context for identifying the cause and the corrective action.