Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

आगच्छन्तं च तंदृष्ट्वा राक्षसं राक्षसानुगम् । द्वारकावासिनो योधाश्चक्रुरत्युल्बणं रवम्

Transliteration

āgacchantaṃ ca taṃdṛṣṭvā rākṣasaṃ rākṣasānugam | dvārakāvāsino yodhāścakruratyulbaṇaṃ ravam

Translation

Als sie den herannahenden Rākṣasa sahen, von anderen Rākṣasas begleitet, erhoben die in Dvārakā wohnenden Krieger ein überaus furchterregendes Geschrei.

Word by Word

• आगच्छन्तम्: coming/approaching
• आगच्छन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of तम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc acc sg)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc acc sg)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having seen)

• राक्षसम्: the rākṣasa (demon)
• राक्षसम्: Apposition/Karma (Appositive to तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc acc sg)

• राक्षसानुगम्: accompanied by/followed by rākṣasas
• राक्षसानुगम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of राक्षसम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुग (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राक्षसानाम् अनुगः = ‘follower of rākṣasas’)

• द्वारकावासिनः: the inhabitants of Dvārakā
• द्वारकावासिनः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (द्वारकायां वासिनः = ‘dwellers in Dvārakā’)

• योधाः: warriors
• योधाः: Karta (Subject; in apposition to द्वारकावासिनः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (masc nom pl)

• चक्रुः: made/raised
• चक्रुः: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (perfect, 3rd pl: ‘did/made’)

• अत्युल्बणम्: very loud
• अत्युल्बणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of रवम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + उल्बण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (अति-उल्बण = ‘excessively loud/violent’)

• रवम्: a roar/cry
• रवम्: Karma (Object of चक्रुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc acc sg)

Speaker

Sūta (narration continues)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At Dvārakā’s gates, armed warriors on ramparts spot an approaching rākṣasa with attendants; conches and drums sound as the city erupts in a fierce alarm.

Characters & Entities

• Ghaṭotkaca
• Dvārakā
• Dvārakāvāsins (warriors)
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Guardians of a dharmic realm remain vigilant; protection of the sacred community is itself a duty.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā is presented as a protected sacred city whose defenders promptly respond to perceived danger.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the focus is on civic and kṣatriya vigilance.