Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 121

Devanagari script

पराङ्गमुखाश्च संजाता भृङ्गी चैव महातपाः । तथा चण्डो हि मुण्डश्च महालोमा महोदरः

Transliteration

parāṅgamukhāśca saṃjātā bhṛṅgī caiva mahātapāḥ | tathā caṇḍo hi muṇḍaśca mahālomā mahodaraḥ

Translation

وہ شرم سے منہ پھیر کر پژمردہ ہو گئے—بھِرنگی اور دوسرے بڑے تپسوی؛ اسی طرح چنڈ اور منڈ، مہالومہ اور مہودر بھی۔

Word by Word

• पराङ्गमुखाः: with faces turned away
• पराङ्गमुखाः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराङ् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — पराङ्मुखं मुखं येषाम् ‘those whose faces turned away’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक — ‘and’

• संजाताः: became
• संजाताः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-जात (कृदन्त; जन्+क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘became/arose’ (predicative)

• भृङ्गी: Bhṛṅgī
• भृङ्गी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृङ्गिन्/भृङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — proper name ‘Bhṛṅgī’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक — ‘and’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात — ‘indeed/just’

• महातपाः: great ascetics
• महातपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महातपस् (प्रातिपदिक; महा+तपस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘great ascetics’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय — ‘thus/likewise’

• चण्डः: Caṇḍa
• चण्डः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — proper name ‘Caṇḍa’

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात — causal/emphatic ‘indeed/for’

• मुण्डः: Muṇḍa
• मुण्डः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — proper name ‘Muṇḍa’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक — ‘and’

• महालोमा: Mahālomā
• महालोमा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + लोमन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘one having great hair/body-hair’ (proper epithet/name)

• महोदरः: Mahodara
• महोदरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + उदर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘big-bellied one’ (proper epithet/name)

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (contextual attribution, Māheśvarakhaṇḍa style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedāranātha

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A tableau of Śiva’s attendants: Bhṛṅgī the austere, and fierce gaṇas like Caṇḍa and Muṇḍa, all turning their faces away, shoulders hunched, eyes downcast—collective shame rippling through the retinue.

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛṅgī
• Caṇḍa
• Muṇḍa
• Mahāloman
• Mahodara
• Śiva-gaṇas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even exalted attendants of Śiva can experience humility and withdrawal when dharma and decorum are challenged; shame becomes a catalyst for reflection.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative sits within Kedārakhaṇḍa, oriented to the sanctity of Kedāra/Kedārakṣetra in the Himalayan sacred landscape.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is prescribed in this verse; it sets narrative context about Śiva’s gaṇas.