Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

मांसप्रियो मद्यसेवी क्रूरदृष्टिर्भयावहः । चत्वार एते विक्रांताः कपालाभरणानुजाः

Transliteration

māṃsapriyo madyasevī krūradṛṣṭirbhayāvahaḥ | catvāra ete vikrāṃtāḥ kapālābharaṇānujāḥ

Translation

Fleischliebend, weintrinkend, mit grausamem, furchterregendem Blick — diese vier Tapferen waren die jüngeren Brüder Kapālābharaṇas.

Word by Word

• मांसप्रियः: meat-loving
• मांसप्रियः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māṃsa + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘मांसस्य प्रियः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (fond of meat)

• मद्यसेवी: wine-drinking
• मद्यसेवी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madya + sevī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘मद्यं सेवते’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष (wine-drinker)

• क्रूरदृष्टिः: cruel-eyed
• क्रूरदृष्टिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krūra + dṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘क्रूरा दृष्टिः यस्य’ (cruel-eyed)

• भयावहः: fearsome, causing fear
• भयावहः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya + āvaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘भयं आवहति’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष (bringing fear)

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catvāra (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संख्याशब्द

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• विक्रान्ताः: valiant, mighty
• विक्रान्ताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + krānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्तार्थे विशेषण (valiant)

• कपालाभरणानुजाः: younger brothers/associates of Kapālābharaṇa
• कपालाभरणानुजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapāla-ābharaṇa + anuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘कपालाभरणस्य अनुजाः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (younger brothers/companions of Kapālābharaṇa)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Setu / Setubandha

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sages

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A close portrayal of four fearsome rākṣasa brothers—muscular, wild-haired, bloodshot eyes, carrying crude weapons and skull/ bone ornaments—standing behind Kapālābharaṇa as a menacing cohort.

Characters & Entities

• Kapālābharaṇa
• Kapālābharaṇānujāḥ (his four younger brothers)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Purāṇas often signal adharma through harmful appetites and cruelty, contrasting them with the discipline expected in dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Setu region (Setukhaṇḍa), the sacred setting where this conflict narrative unfolds.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a descriptive identification of the antagonists.