Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

कैकस्यजनयत्पुत्रं रावणं राक्षसाधिपम् । शंकुकर्णं दशग्रीवं पिगलं रक्तमूर्द्धजम्

Transliteration

kaikasyajanayatputraṃ rāvaṇaṃ rākṣasādhipam | śaṃkukarṇaṃ daśagrīvaṃ pigalaṃ raktamūrddhajam

Translation

Kaikasī gebar einen Sohn — Rāvaṇa, den Herrn der Rākṣasas — mit muschelgleichen Ohren, zehn Hälsen, fahlgelber Farbe und rotem Haar.

Word by Word

• कैकस्य: of Kaikasa
• कैकस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• अजनयत्: begot/produced
• अजनयत्: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु) (णिच् causative: जनयति)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: 'caused to be born')

• पुत्रम्: a son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• रावणम्: Rāvaṇa
• रावणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• राक्षसाधिपम्: lord of the rākṣasas
• राक्षसाधिपम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राक्षस + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (rākṣasānām adhipaḥ)

• शंकुकर्णम्: having spike-like ears
• शंकुकर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंकु + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (one whose ears are like pegs/spikes)

• दशग्रीवम्: ten-necked (ten-headed)
• दशग्रीवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश + ग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (one who has ten necks/heads)

• पिगलम्: tawny/reddish-brown
• पिगलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिगल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रक्तमूर्द्धजम्: red-haired
• रक्तमूर्द्धजम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त + मूर्द्धज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (one whose hair is red)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Kaikasī gives birth to Rāvaṇa: a formidable infant marked by conch-like ears, ten necks (symbolically shown as multiple heads/neck bands), tawny complexion, red hair—attendants recoil while the scene radiates ominous vigor.

Characters & Entities

• Kaikasī
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It introduces a powerful figure whose later choices become moral instruction: strength and stature must be governed by dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The account is embedded in Prabhāsakṣetra Māhātmya, part of the Prabhāsa sacred region celebrated in the Skanda Purana.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse is genealogical and descriptive.