Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

ज्योतिर्मंडलमध्यस्थो ददृशे पुरुषाकृतिः । प्रजज्वालाथ कोपेन ब्रह्मणः पंचमं शिरः

Transliteration

jyotirmaṃḍalamadhyastho dadṛśe puruṣākṛtiḥ | prajajvālātha kopena brahmaṇaḥ paṃcamaṃ śiraḥ

Translation

Inmitten des Lichtkreises erschien eine menschenähnliche Gestalt; und dann, im Zorn, loderte Brahmās fünftes Haupt in Flammen auf.

Word by Word

• ज्योतिः: of the light
• ज्योतिः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• मण्डल: of the orb/circle
• मण्डल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग)

• मध्यस्थः: standing in the middle
• मध्यस्थः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (धातु √स्था, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (मध्य + स्थ), पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifies पुरुषाकृतिः)

• ददृशे: was seen/appeared
• ददृशे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्

• पुरुषाकृतिः: a human-like form
• पुरुषाकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (पुरुषस्य आकृतिः), स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• प्रजज्वाल: blazed forth
• प्रजज्वाल: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः प्र-

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (particle/conjunction): 'then/and then'

• कोपेन: with anger
• कोपेन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• पञ्चमम्: fifth
• पञ्चमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifies शिरः)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa typically Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Avimukta-Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis/seekers

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Inside a radiant circle of light, a divine human-like silhouette becomes visible; at the same time, Brahmā’s extra head erupts with fiery brilliance, suggesting anger and hubris.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Divine Light (Jyotis)
• Puruṣākṛti (person-form)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine revelation confronts pride; anger and ego (even in gods) lead toward downfall and correction.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) is the larger sacred setting, where Śiva’s presence and governance are proclaimed.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is prescribed in this verse; it advances the narrative leading to the discipline of Brahmā through Bhairava.