Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

विभिन्ना भिन्नमूर्धानस्तथा भिन्नोरुजानवः । विपर्यस्तं रथांगैश्च पतितं ध्वजशक्तिभिः

Transliteration

vibhinnā bhinnamūrdhānastathā bhinnorujānavaḥ | viparyastaṃ rathāṃgaiśca patitaṃ dhvajaśaktibhiḥ

Translation

Heads were split, and so too thighs and knees were shattered. Overturned by the parts of chariots, many lay fallen—struck down by standards and spears.

Word by Word

• विभिन्नाः: split, shattered
• विभिन्नाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-भिद् (धातु) → विभिन्न (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत (past passive participle) used adjectivally

• भिन्न-मूर्धानः: those with split heads
• भिन्न-मूर्धानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिन्न (वि-भिद् धातु → क्त-कृदन्त) + मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भिन्नाः मूर्धानः येषाम्/भिन्नमूर्धानः)

• तथा: likewise, thus
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चय/उपमानार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• भिन्न-ऊरु-जानवः: those with shattered thighs and knees
• भिन्न-ऊरु-जानवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिन्न (वि-भिद् धातु → क्त-कृदन्त) + ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक) + जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-प्रायः ‘ऊरु-जानु’ (thighs and knees) with पूर्वपद-विशेषण ‘भिन्न’

• विपर्यस्तम्: overturned, thrown down
• विपर्यस्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-परि-अस् (धातु) → विपर्यस्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• रथ-अङ्गैः: by parts of chariots
• रथ-अङ्गैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रथस्य अङ्गानि)

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

• पतितम्: fallen
• पतितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) → पतित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (fallen)

• ध्वज-शक्तिभिः: by banners and spears
• ध्वज-शक्तिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (ध्वजाः च शक्तयः च)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A chaotic battlefield: overturned chariots, broken wheels and axles, fallen standards (dhvaja), spears (śakti), and warriors with split heads and shattered thighs/knees; dust and blood haze over the ground.

Characters & Entities

• ratha (chariot)
• dhvaja (standard)
• śakti (spear)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Graphic war-description underscores the grave cost of adharma-driven conflict and the urgency of restoring cosmic order through dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None—this verse focuses on battlefield devastation.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.