Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 56

Devanagari script

मत्ता मदनसंगेन हंसीभिः कलहंसकाः । करेणुभिर्गजाह्यासञ्छिखंडीभिः शिखंडिनः

Transliteration

mattā madanasaṃgena haṃsībhiḥ kalahaṃsakāḥ | kareṇubhirgajāhyāsañchikhaṃḍībhiḥ śikhaṃḍinaḥ

Translation

因爱欲的触动而迷醉，雄天鹅依偎其侣；雄象紧贴母象；雄孔雀亦偎近雌孔雀。

Word by Word

• मत्ताः: intoxicated/maddened
• मत्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• मदन-सङ्गेन: by association with love/passion
• मदन-सङ्गेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मदनस्य सङ्गेन)

• हंसीभिः: by female swans
• हंसीभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनम्

• कलहंसकाः: (male) swans
• कलहंसकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलहंसक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनम्

• करेणुभिः: by female elephants
• करेणुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करेणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनम्

• गजाह्याः: male elephants (gajāhya)
• गजाह्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गजाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनम्

• आसन्: were
• आसन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• शिखण्डीभिः: by peahens
• शिखण्डीभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचनम्

• शिखण्डिनः: peacocks
• शिखण्डिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनम्

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa Sūta (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narration to sages)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra (Kedāranātha-kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Pairs of swans glide close, elephants press together in affectionate proximity, and peacocks fan their tails near peahens—an entire landscape synchronized in mating ardor, as if spring itself has been intensified.

Characters & Entities

• Madana (Kāma)
• Haṃsa (swan)
• Gaja (elephant)
• Śikhaṇḍin (peacock)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Worldly desire can surge powerfully across creation, yet it ultimately stands subordinate to the greater force of Śiva’s tapas.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra-kṣetra, where the narrative frames cosmic events around Śiva’s asceticism.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is narrative atmosphere preceding a pivotal divine episode.