Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

खड्गशंखाविमौ दिव्यौ परसैन्यविनाशिनौ । आत्मसैन्यस्वपक्षाणां शौर्यतेजोविवर्धनौ

Transliteration

khaḍgaśaṃkhāvimau divyau parasainyavināśinau | ātmasainyasvapakṣāṇāṃ śauryatejovivardhanau

Translation

This divine sword and conch destroy the enemy’s army, and they increase the valor and brilliance of one’s own forces and allies.

Word by Word

• खड्गशंखौ: the sword and the conch
• खड्गशंखौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग + शंख (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• इमौ: these two
• इमौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषणम्

• दिव्यौ: divine
• दिव्यौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषणम्

• परसैन्यविनाशिनौ: destroyers of the enemy army
• परसैन्यविनाशिनौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर-सैन्य-विनाशिन् (प्रातिपदिक; पर = enemy/other, सैन्य = army, विनाशिन् = destroyer)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषणम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘परस्य सैन्यस्य विनाशिनौ’)

• आत्मसैन्यस्वपक्षाणाम्: of one’s own army and allies
• आत्मसैन्यस्वपक्षाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्म-सैन्य-स्व-पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘आत्मनः सैन्यस्य स्वपक्षाणाम्’ (of one’s own side/forces)

• शौर्यतेजोविवर्धनौ: enhancers of valor and splendor
• शौर्यतेजोविवर्धनौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शौर्य-तेजस्-विवर्धन (प्रातिपदिक; विवर्धन = increaser)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषणम्; (शौर्यस्य तेजसश्च विवर्धनौ)

Speaker

Ṛṣabha (yogī-sage)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Sword and conch appear as paired divine gifts, hovering or held aloft; enemy ranks scatter while the hero’s side glows with heightened courage and brilliance, banners rising.

Characters & Entities

• khaḍga
• śaṅkha
• para-sainya (enemy army)
• ātma-sainya (own army)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dhārmic victory is portrayed as both removal of adharma (enemy force) and strengthening of righteous courage (śaurya, tejas).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is referenced in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it summarizes the fruits (phala) of the divine conch and sword.