Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

मृतांस्तान्यमलोका हि निहत्य धरणीतले । क्रूरपादेन चाक्रम्य क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनाः

Transliteration

mṛtāṃstānyamalokā hi nihatya dharaṇītale | krūrapādena cākramya krodhasaṃraktalocanāḥ

Translation

Wenn jene Männer sterben, schlagen die Wesen aus Yamas Reich sie zu Boden und treten sie mit grausamen Füßen, die Augen vor Zorn gerötet.

Word by Word

• मृतान्: dead (ones)
• मृतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛta (कृदन्त; √mṛ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अमलोकाः: those without a (proper) world/realm (wretched beings)
• अमलोकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + maloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक (negated)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• निहत्य: having killed
• निहत्य: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni- (उपसर्ग) + √han (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/क्त्वान्त), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having killed’

• धरणीतले: on the surface of the earth
• धरणीतले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharaṇī-tala (प्रातिपदिक; धरणी + तल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धरण्याः तलम्)

• क्रूरपादेन: with a cruel foot
• क्रूरपादेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krūra-pāda (प्रातिपदिक; क्रूर + पाद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (क्रूरः पादः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• आक्रम्य: having trampled
• आक्रम्य: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā- (उपसर्ग) + √kram (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having stepped on/trampled’

• क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनाः: having eyes reddened with anger
• क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krodha-saṃrakta-locana (प्रातिपदिक; क्रोध + संरक्त + लोचन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (क्रोधेन संरक्ते लोचने यस्य)

Speaker

Śiva

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrimage-inquirer (generic)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Infernal ground-level perspective: Yamadūtas with bloodshot, wrath-reddened eyes pin the dead to the earth and trample them with cruel feet—an inversion of the earlier act of kicking. Dust, impact marks, and oppressive weight convey punishment.

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamaloka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Harming others—through abuse and assault—invites harsh karmic recompense symbolized by Yama’s agents.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsa Kṣetra; the Māhātmya elevates the site by prescribing elevated conduct for those connected with its rites.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual instruction; it underscores the moral boundaries that must accompany Śrāddha and sacred hospitality.