Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

ततः कालेन महता कृताख्ययुगपर्यये । लोहासुरो मदोन्मत्तो ब्रह्मवेषधरः सदा

Transliteration

tataḥ kālena mahatā kṛtākhyayugaparyaye | lohāsuro madonmatto brahmaveṣadharaḥ sadā

Translation

Then, after a long time, at the close of the age called Kṛta, Lohāsura—maddened with pride—would always assume the guise of a brāhmaṇa.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Temporal/कालसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अव्यय-प्रकारः (adverb of sequence)

• कालेन: by time
• कालेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• महता: great
• महता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘कालेन’ इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• कृताख्ययुगपर्यये: at the end of the Kṛta-yuga
• कृताख्ययुगपर्यये: Adhikarana (Time-location/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (कृताख्यस्य युगस्य पर्याये = at the turn/end of the yuga called Kṛta)

• लोहासुरः: the demon Loha
• लोहासुरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोह (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (लोहः असुरः)

• मदोन्मत्तः: maddened by intoxication/pride
• मदोन्मत्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्मत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मदेन उन्मत्तः)

• ब्रह्मवेषधरः: wearing the guise of a Brahmin
• ब्रह्मवेषधरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः वेषं धरति)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (contextual)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇyaka (implied)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At yuga’s turning, Lohāsura appears—powerful, arrogant—wearing a brāhmaṇa’s guise: staff, sacred thread, and calm exterior masking a fierce asuric aura.

Characters & Entities

• Lohāsura
• Kṛtayuga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Adharma often enters by disguise; discernment is required especially as ages change and virtue declines.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative remains set in the Dharmāraṇya cycle; this verse introduces a new threat rather than praising a site.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it introduces Lohāsura and his deceptive behavior.