Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

अहमासं पुरा शूद्रो दरिद्रोऽतीवभूतले । भ्रमामि वसुधापृष्ठे ह्यशनपीडितो भृशम्

Transliteration

ahamāsaṃ purā śūdro daridro'tīvabhūtale | bhramāmi vasudhāpṛṣṭhe hyaśanapīḍito bhṛśam

Translation

“从前我曾为首陀罗（Śūdra），在世间极其贫困。我在大地之面漂泊流转，被饥饿深深折磨。”

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग-प्रयोग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• आसम्: was
• आसम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• शूद्रः: a Śūdra
• शूद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दरिद्रः: poor
• दरिद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दरिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• अतीव: very, exceedingly
• अतीव: Visheshana (Modifier/विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक-अव्यय (intensifier adverb)

• भूतले: on the earth
• भूतले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भ्रमामि: I wander
• भ्रमामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• वसुधापृष्ठे: on the surface of the earth
• वसुधापृष्ठे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुधा-पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: वसुधा + पृष्ठ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Emphasis (Nipata/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अशनपीडितः: afflicted by hunger
• अशनपीडितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशन-पीडित (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: अशन + पीडित)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle) from पीड्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• भृशम्: greatly
• भृशम्: Visheshana (Modifier/विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: तीव्रतावाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lomaśa

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Bhūpa (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A starving, rag-clad wanderer traverses dusty roads and open fields, clutching his throat in hunger; distant temple silhouettes hint at impending encounter with a liṅga.

Characters & Entities

• Lomaśa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic narratives often show that spiritual elevation can arise from hardship when one turns toward dharma and devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named yet; the verse sets the background for a forthcoming sacred encounter.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it is autobiographical context for the merit-story.