Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

जटिलं वामनं चैव नागयज्ञोपवीतकम् । त्र्यक्षं चैव महाकायं करध्वजकुठारकम्

Transliteration

jaṭilaṃ vāmanaṃ caiva nāgayajñopavītakam | tryakṣaṃ caiva mahākāyaṃ karadhvajakuṭhārakam

Translation

Mit verfilztem Haar und zwergenhaftem Antlitz, eine Schlange als heiliges Band tragend; dreiaugig, von gewaltiger Gestalt, in der Hand Banner und Axt—so wurde der Herr geschildert.

Word by Word

• जटिलम्: matted-haired
• जटिलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjective)

• वामनम्: dwarf-like/short
• वामनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjective)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• नागयज्ञोपवीतकम्: having a sacred thread of serpent (nāga)
• नागयज्ञोपवीतकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाग + यज्ञोपवीतक (प्रातिपदिक); यज्ञोपवीतक = यज्ञ + उपवीतक (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुष (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; genitival/determinative compound)

• त्र्यक्षम्: three-eyed
• त्र्यक्षम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; द्विगु/तत्पुरुष-समास (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; ‘three-eyed’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• महाकायम्: huge-bodied
• महाकायम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; ‘great-bodied’)

• करध्वजकुठारकम्: bearing hand, banner, and axe
• करध्वजकुठारकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर + ध्वज + कुठारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; ‘having hand-banner-axe’)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator, contextually Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A formidable yet auspicious divine figure is envisioned: matted locks, dwarf-like compactness, serpent as sacred thread, three eyes, immense cosmic body, holding a banner and an axe—standing as a kṣetra-guardian while gods look on.

Characters & Entities

• Mahādeva (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Lord transcends ordinary categories—ascetic and cosmic—yet remains the protector equipped with divine insignia.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named; the verse serves as iconographic praise within the Dharmāraṇya section.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it provides meditative descriptors useful for dhyāna and stotra during worship.