Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 67

Devanagari script

जराशोकसमाविष्टं कालवक्त्रानलस्थितम् । रागद्वेषादिभिर्ध्वस्तं षट्कौशिकसमुद्भवम्

Transliteration

jarāśokasamāviṣṭaṃ kālavaktrānalasthitam | rāgadveṣādibhirdhvastaṃ ṣaṭkauśikasamudbhavam

Translation

此身为老与忧所裹，置于时劫张口之火中；为贪爱、嗔恚等所摧碎——乃由六重鞘衣而生。

Word by Word

• जरā-शोक-समाविष्टम्: possessed by old age and grief
• जरā-शोक-समाविष्टम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जरā (प्रातिपदिक) + शोक (प्रातिपदिक) + समाविष्ट (कृदन्त; विश् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (जराशोकेन समाविष्टम्) + क्त (सम्+आ+विश्)

• काल-वक्त्र-अनल-स्थितम्: situated in the fire of Time’s mouth
• काल-वक्त्र-अनल-स्थितम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अनल (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त; स्था धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कालस्य वक्त्ररूपे अनले स्थितम्)

• राग-द्वेष-आदिभिः: by passion, hatred, and the like
• राग-द्वेष-आदिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राग (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व/तत्पुरुष (रागद्वेषौ आदि येषां तैः)

• ध्वस्तम्: destroyed, shattered
• ध्वस्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्वंस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• षट्-कौशिक-समुद्भवम्: arisen from the six sheaths/layers
• षट्-कौशिक-समुद्भवम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + कौशिक (प्रातिपदिक) + समुद्भव (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; भू धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु/तत्पुरुष (षट् कौशिकाः/कोशाः) + समुद्भवः (सम्+उद्+भू)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced for Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dramatic allegory: Time (Kāla) as a vast fiery mouth; within it, a frail human form beset by old age and grief; shadowy figures labeled rāga and dveṣa strike the body; layered sheaths suggested as concentric veils.

Characters & Entities

• Kāla (Time)
• Ṣaṭkośa (six sheaths)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The body is impermanent and afflicted by Time and passions; detachment supports the pursuit of liberation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; the focus is philosophical instruction on embodied existence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None here; it is descriptive and contemplative rather than prescriptive.