Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

एकवृक्षश्च वृक्षेषु करालवदनो निशि । घण्टारवो गुहावासी पद्मखंजो जले स्थितः

Transliteration

ekavṛkṣaśca vṛkṣeṣu karālavadano niśi | ghaṇṭāravo guhāvāsī padmakhaṃjo jale sthitaḥ

Translation

درختوں میں وہ ایکَوِرکش ہے؛ رات میں وہ کرالَوَدَن (ہیبت ناک چہرہ) ہے۔ غاروں میں بسنے والا وہ گھَنٹارَو (گھنٹی جیسی گرج) ہے، اور پانیوں میں وہ پَدْمَکھنجو کے روپ میں قائم ہے۔

Word by Word

• एकवृक्षः: Ekavṛkṣa (name; ‘single tree’)
• एकवृक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (एकः वृक्षः / एकवृक्ष-नाम)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वृक्षेषु: among/in trees
• वृक्षेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• करालवदनः: Karālavādana (terrible-faced; name)
• करालवदनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कराल + वदन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (terrible-faced)

• निशि: at night
• निशि: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (वैकल्पिक रूप)

• घण्टारवः: Ghaṇṭārava (bell-sound; name)
• घण्टारवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घण्टा + रव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (घण्टायाः रवः)

• गुहावासी: cave-dweller (name/epithet)
• गुहावासी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुहा + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गुहायां वासी)

• पद्मखंजः: Padmakhañja (name)
• पद्मखंजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म + खंज (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (lotus-limp/lotus-like; epithet)

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• स्थितः: standing, stationed
• स्थितः: Karta (Predicate/कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Guhā (cave) / Jala-tīrtha (waters) / Vṛkṣa-sthala (sacred tree spot)

Type: kund

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A continuous landscape: a solitary sacred tree (Ekavṛkṣa) glowing; a night scene with Karālavadana looming yet protective; a cave mouth resonating like a bell (Ghaṇṭārava); and lotus-filled waters where Padmakhaṃja stands amid blooms.

Characters & Entities

• Ekavṛkṣa
• Karālavadana
• Ghaṇṭārava
• Padmakhaṃja

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Every landscape of pilgrimage—tree-groves, night paths, caves, and waters—has sanctified protection within Śaiva dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is typological (by habitat) rather than naming one tirtha; it supports sacred travel through varied terrains.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Place-based remembrance of the guardian-name when entering groves, traveling at night, visiting caves, or approaching water.