Vamana Purana — Skanda Slays Taraka & Mahisha, Shloka 52
Skanda’s Svastyayana and the Slaying of Taraka and Mahisha
ज्वालामुखो भयकरः करेणादाय चासुरम् सरथं सगजं साश्वं विस्तृते वदने ऽक्षिपत
jvālāmukho bhayakaraḥ kareṇādāya cāsuram sarathaṃ sagajaṃ sāśvaṃ vistṛte vadane 'kṣipata
ভয়ংকর জ্বালামুখ হাতে সেই অসুরকে—রথ, হাতি ও ঘোড়াসহ—ধরে, বিস্তৃত মুখে নিক্ষেপ করল।
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FAQs
In the Andhaka-vadha battle cycle, names like Jvālāmukha typically denote fierce combatants aligned with Śiva’s side (often gaṇas or terrifying beings). The epithet “flame-mouthed” emphasizes a monstrous, destructive mode rather than a human warrior.
It is a hyperbolic purāṇic battle trope signaling total annihilation and overwhelming superiority: the enemy is not merely slain but consumed along with his entire war apparatus (chariot, elephant, horses).
No. Despite the Vāmana Purāṇa’s strong geographical orientation in many sections, this particular śloka is purely martial description and contains no named rivers, forests, lakes, or tīrthas.