Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

सिंहारूढा चतुर्हस्ता शशांककृतशेखरा । मुक्ताहारलतोपेता पीतोन्नतपयोधरा

Transliteration

siṃhārūḍhā caturhastā śaśāṃkakṛtaśekharā | muktāhāralatopetā pītonnatapayodharā

Translation

راكبةٌ أسدًا، ذاتُ أربعِ أيدٍ، متوَّجةٌ بالقمرِ تاجًا على هامتها؛ متحليةٌ بعقدٍ من اللؤلؤ، ذاتُ صدرٍ ممتلئٍ مرفوعٍ بلونٍ ذهبي.

Word by Word

• siṃhārūḍhā: mounted on a lion
• siṃhārūḍhā: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + ārūḍhā (√ruh + ā- + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'siṃhe ārūḍhā' (mounted on a lion); भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• catur-hastā: four-handed
• catur-hastā: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numeral compound): 'catur hastāḥ yasyāḥ sā' (having four hands); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śaśāṅka-kṛta-śekharā: having a moon-made crest (moon as diadem)
• śaśāṅka-kṛta-śekharā: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaśāṅka (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (√kṛ + क्त) + śekharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'śaśāṅkena kṛtaḥ śekharaḥ yasyāḥ' (whose crest is made with the moon); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• muktāhāra-latā-upetā: endowed with a pearl-garland like a creeper
• muktāhāra-latā-upetā: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muktā (प्रातिपदिक) + hāra (प्रातिपदिक) + latā (प्रातिपदिक) + upetā (√i + upa- + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'muktāhāra-latayā upetā' (endowed with a creeper-like pearl-necklace); भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pīta-unnata-payodharā: having yellowish, uplifted breasts
• pīta-unnata-payodharā: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīta (प्रातिपदिक) + unnata (प्रातिपदिक) + payodhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समुच्चय: 'pītāś ca unnatāś ca payodharāḥ yasyāḥ' (having yellowish and uplifted breasts); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator within Dharmāraṇyakhaṇḍa context; exact speaker not explicit in the snippet)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ānandā-Devī shrine (within the kṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: king (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The Devī appears enthroned upon a lion, four-armed, with a crescent moon set as her crest; pearl garlands drape her chest; her complexion glows with golden warmth; the lion stands poised, suggesting readiness to protect the city.

Characters & Entities

• Devī/Śakti (implied)
• Lion (siṃha)
• Moon (śaśāṅka)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The deity’s form is taught for reverent contemplation; dhyāna on the protective Śakti supports courage and dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Dharmāraṇya sacred complex where this lion-mounted Śakti is praised as guardian.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite; the verse provides dhyāna-style iconographic features for worship and remembrance.