Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

भुशुण्डीं भीषणाकारां गृहीत्वा शैलगौरवाम् । रक्षिणो मुकुटस्याथ निष्पिपेष निशाचरान्

Transliteration

bhuśuṇḍīṃ bhīṣaṇākārāṃ gṛhītvā śailagauravām | rakṣiṇo mukuṭasyātha niṣpipeṣa niśācarān

Translation

Grasping a terrifying bhuśuṇḍī, heavy as a mountain, he then crushed the night-roaming guards who were protecting the crown.

Word by Word

• भुशुण्डीम्: a bhuśuṇḍī (a heavy mace/club)
• भुशुण्डीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुशुण्डी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (accusative singular)

• भीषणाकाराम्: of terrifying shape
• भीषणाकाराम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीषण + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (भीषणः आकारः यस्याः = of terrifying form); स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् भुशुण्डीम्

• गृहीत्वा: having seized
• गृहीत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund) = having seized/taken

• शैलगौरवाम्: heavy as a mountain
• शैलगौरवाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैल + गौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (शैलस्य गौरवम् इव = having the heaviness of a mountain); स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् भुशुण्डीम्

• रक्षिणः: guards; protectors
• रक्षिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (nominative plural)

• मुकुटस्य: of the crown
• मुकुटस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुकुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम् (genitive singular)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अनन्तरार्थ/आरम्भ) = then/thereupon

• निष्पिपेष: crushed; pounded
• निष्पिपेष: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस् + पिष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत) 3rd पुरुषः एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• निशाचरान्: night-roamers (demons)
• निशाचरान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया बहुवचनम् (accusative plural)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Dānava lifts a massive, terrifying bhuśuṇḍī (mountain-heavy) and smashes down upon the niśācara guards around the crown; bodies scatter, dust and fragments burst outward.

Characters & Entities

• Dānava (implied agent)
• Mukuṭa (crown)
• Niśācara guards

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When adharma dominates, protectors suffer; the narrative highlights the need for righteous strength to safeguard order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.