Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 67

Devanagari script

कार्ष्णलोहमयो ध्वांक्षो यमस्याभून्महाध्वजः । राक्षसेशस्य वदनं प्रेतस्य ध्वज आबभौ

Transliteration

kārṣṇalohamayo dhvāṃkṣo yamasyābhūnmahādhvajaḥ | rākṣaseśasya vadanaṃ pretasya dhvaja ābabhau

Translation

كان لواء يَمَا العظيم يحمل غرابًا مصنوعًا من حديدٍ أسود؛ ولِسَيِّدِ الرَّاكْشَسَةِ ظهرَ لواءٌ يُبدي وجهَ بريتا (روحٍ هائمة).

Word by Word

• कार्ष्ण-लोह-मयः: made of black iron
• कार्ष्ण-लोह-मयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + लोह (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ध्वाङ्क्षः: a crow
• ध्वाङ्क्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वाङ्क्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (ध्वजचिह्नरूपेण)

• यमस्य: of Yama
• यमस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अभूत्: was/became
• अभूत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महा-ध्वजः: a great banner
• महा-ध्वजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• राक्षस-ईशस्य: of the lord of rākṣasas
• राक्षस-ईशस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वदनम्: a face
• वदनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (ध्वजचिह्नरूपेण)

• प्रेतस्य: of a preta (ghost)
• प्रेतस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• ध्वजः: banner
• ध्वजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आबभौ: shone/appeared splendid
• आबभौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + भा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced for Māheśvara Khaṇḍa narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two grim standards dominate: Yama’s great banner topped with a crow forged of black iron, heavy and unblinking; nearby, the rākṣasa-lord’s banner bears a stark preta face—sunken eyes, pallid glare—casting a shadow over the battlefield.

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Rākṣaseśa (lord of rākṣasas)
• Preta

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Purāṇas use emblems to signify inner nature: Yama’s symbol evokes judgment and inevitability; fearsome standards mirror tamasic forces.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.