Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

ततस्तिर्यक्त्वमाप्नोति योनिं वा राक्षसीं शुनीम् । व्यालीं शृगालीं पैशाचीं महाभूतभयंकरीम्

Transliteration

tatastiryaktvamāpnoti yoniṃ vā rākṣasīṃ śunīm | vyālīṃ śṛgālīṃ paiśācīṃ mahābhūtabhayaṃkarīm

Translation

তারপর সে তির্যক্‌-যোনিতে পতিত হয়—অথবা রাক্ষসী, কুকুরী, নাগিনী, শৃগালী কিংবা পিশাচী-যোনিতে—যা মহাভূতের ন্যায় ভয়ংকর।

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (सम्बन्ध/अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय); Indeclinable adverb (thereafter/then)

• तिर्यक्त्वम्: animality (state of being an animal)
• तिर्यक्त्वम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिर्यक् + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Neuter, Accusative singular

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; Present indicative, 3rd person singular

• योनिम्: a womb/birth
• योनिम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Feminine, Accusative singular

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय; Indeclinable particle (or)

• राक्षसीम्: demonic
• राक्षसीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राक्षसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Feminine, Accusative singular (agreeing with योनिम्)

• शुनीम्: a female dog
• शुनीम्: Karma (Object/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Feminine, Accusative singular (apposition to योनिम्)

• व्यालीम्: a female serpent/monster
• व्यालीम्: Karma (Object/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Feminine, Accusative singular

• शृगालीम्: a female jackal
• शृगालीम्: Karma (Object/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृगाली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Feminine, Accusative singular

• पैशाचीम्: piśāca-like/demonic
• पैशाचीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पैशाची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Feminine, Accusative singular

• महाभूतभयंकरीम्: causing great fear
• महाभूतभयंकरीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभूत-भयंकरी (महा + भूत + भयंकरी) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Feminine, Accusative singular (agreeing with योनिम्/शुनीम् etc.)

Speaker

Brahmā (to Nārada, inferred)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: After torment, the soul is shown falling through darkness into successive frightening female forms: animal wombs and ominous yonis—rākṣasī, śunī (bitch), vyālī (serpent-woman), śṛgālī (she-jackal), and a piśācī—each depicted as fearsome, ghoul-like, and unsettling.

Characters & Entities

• rākṣasī
• śunī
• vyālī
• śṛgālī
• paiśācī
• mahābhūta

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Severe adharma can degrade consciousness into painful and fearful rebirths after punishment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse continues the karmic consequence sequence rather than praising a pilgrimage place.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is stated; it warns against actions that lead to naraka and degraded rebirth.