Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वांगो जटामंडलमंडितः । वल्कलाजिनसंवीतो भिक्षामात्रपरिग्रहः

Transliteration

bhasmoddhūlitasarvāṃgo jaṭāmaṃḍalamaṃḍitaḥ | valkalājinasaṃvīto bhikṣāmātraparigrahaḥ

Translation

他通身涂覆圣灰；以盘结的发髻成环为饰；身披树皮衣与鹿皮；所受唯有乞食之施，以此为唯一依止。

Word by Word

• भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वाङ्गः: whose whole body is smeared with ash
• भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वाङ्गः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्मन् + उद्धूलित (√धूल्/ध्वल्?; √धूल् ‘to dust/smear’, क्त; कृदन्त) + सर्व + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भस्मना उद्धूलितानि सर्वाणि अङ्गानि यस्य (whose whole body is smeared with ash)

• जटामण्डलमण्डितः: adorned with matted locks
• जटामण्डलमण्डितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा + मण्डल + मण्डित (√मण्ड् धातु, क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; जटामण्डलेन मण्डितः (adorned with a circle/mass of matted hair)

• वल्कलाजिनसंवीतः: clad in bark and deer-skin
• वल्कलाजिनसंवीतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वल्कल + अजिन + संवीत (√वे/√वी धातु ‘to clothe’, क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वल्कलम् अजिनं च (dvandva) ताभ्यां संवीतः (clad in bark-garment and deer-skin)

• भिक्षामात्रपरिग्रहः: having only alms as possession
• भिक्षामात्रपरिग्रहः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिक्षा + मात्र + परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भिक्षामात्रः परिग्रहः यस्य (whose only possession is alms)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close depiction of the ascetic’s Śaiva emblems: ash-smeared limbs, thick jaṭā-mukuṭa, bark garment and deerskin, begging bowl; austere yet luminous.

Characters & Entities

• Bhasma
• Vāmadeva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

External marks like bhasma and jaṭā signify inner renunciation; the ideal is minimal living sustained by alms and austerity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is mentioned; the verse highlights Śaiva ascetic culture and bhasma symbolism.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Bhasma-dhāraṇa (smearing sacred ash) is implied as a Śaiva observance, alongside living by bhikṣā (alms).