Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 61

Devanagari script

तथा रक्तोत्तरासंगा निर्मलायोविभूषणाः । गृध्रध्वजा अदृश्यंत राक्षसा रक्तमूर्धजाः

Transliteration

tathā raktottarāsaṃgā nirmalāyovibhūṣaṇāḥ | gṛdhradhvajā adṛśyaṃta rākṣasā raktamūrdhajāḥ

Translation

তদ্রূপ লাল উত্তরীয় পরিহিত, নির্মল লৌহাভরণে ভূষিত, গৃধ্র-ধ্বজধারী ও রক্তবর্ণ কেশযুক্ত রাক্ষসরা দৃশ্যমান হল।

Word by Word

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Discourse adverb (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक (thus/likewise)

• रक्तोत्तरासङ्गाः: wearing red upper garments
• रक्तोत्तरासङ्गाः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त-उत्तरसङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रक्तः उत्तरासङ्गः येषाम्)

• निर्मलायोविभूषणाः: adorned with bright iron ornaments
• निर्मलायोविभूषणाः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मल-अयस्-विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (निर्मलम् अयः-विभूषणं येषाम्)

• गृध्रध्वजाः: having vulture-banners
• गृध्रध्वजाः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गृध्र-ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गृध्रः ध्वजः येषाम्)

• अदृश्यन्त: were seen/appeared
• अदृश्यन्त: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद (passive sense)

• राक्षसाः: rākṣasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• रक्तमूर्धजाः: red-haired
• रक्तमूर्धजाः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त-मूर्धज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (रक्ताः मूर्धजाः येषाम्)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvara-khaṇḍa narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A mass of rākṣasas emerges: red upper garments, gleaming iron ornaments, vulture-emblazoned banners, hair like fresh blood; the scene feels heavy, smoky, and foreboding.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Adharma often displays grim symbols and harsh adornments; the text contrasts such ominous imagery with the protective order of dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is mentioned.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.