Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

ज्वालामुखोऽथ रक्ताक्षः स्मशाननिलयः क्रथः । मांसादो रुधिराहारः कृष्णः कृष्णजटाधरः

Transliteration

jvālāmukho'tha raktākṣaḥ smaśānanilayaḥ krathaḥ | māṃsādo rudhirāhāraḥ kṛṣṇaḥ kṛṣṇajaṭādharaḥ

Translation

Jvālāmukha; sodann Raktākṣa; Kratha, der auf den Verbrennungsstätten wohnt; Māṃsāda, der Fleischfresser; Rudhirāhāra, der sich von Blut nährt; und Kṛṣṇa mit dunklen verfilzten Locken—(dies sind die grimmigen Hüter jenes Viertels).

Word by Word

• ज्वालामुखः: Flame-faced (one whose face is flame)
• ज्वालामुखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ज्वालायाः मुखम्)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (then/now)

• रक्ताक्षः: Red-eyed
• रक्ताक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (रक्तम् अक्षि यस्य/रक्तम् अक्षम्)

• श्मशाननिलयः: Dweller in the cremation-ground
• श्मशाननिलयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक) + निलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (श्मशाने निलयः)

• क्रथः: Kratha (name)
• क्रथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• मांसादः: Flesh-eater
• मांसादः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + अद (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः/कृदन्तसमासः (मांसम् अदति इति)

• रुधिराहारः: One whose food is blood
• रुधिराहारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक) + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रुधिरस्य आहारः)

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa / the dark one (name)
• कृष्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषणरूपेण

• कृष्णजटाधरः: Bearer of black matted locks
• कृष्णजटाधरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णाः जटाः धरति इति/कृष्णजटानां धरः)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Dvārakā Māhātmya narrative style within Skanda Purāṇa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā (Āgneya-dik guardians)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Inquirer/pilgrim audience

Visual Art Cues

Scene: In the south-east quarter near a shadowed boundary, fierce guardians appear: flame-faced Jvālāmukha, red-eyed Raktākṣa, Kratha dwelling by śmaśāna, and others with dark matted locks—standing as terrifying yet protective sentinels.

Characters & Entities

• Jvālāmukha
• Raktākṣa
• Kratha
• Māṃsāda
• Rudhirāhāra
• Kṛṣṇa (guardian name)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even fearsome beings can be integrated into dharma as protectors of a sacred city, showing the Purāṇic theme of transformation into service.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā—its sanctity is emphasized by the presence of appointed guardians for each direction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is stated; the verse provides names for remembrance and contextual veneration.