Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 38

Devanagari script

प्रोद्धूतबललांगूलदंष्ट्रोत्कट गुहामुखः । व्यावृतास्यो ललज्जिह्वः क्षामकुक्षिश्चिखादिषुः

Transliteration

proddhūtabalalāṃgūladaṃṣṭrotkaṭa guhāmukhaḥ | vyāvṛtāsyo lalajjihvaḥ kṣāmakukṣiścikhādiṣuḥ

Translation

Its mighty tail was lifted high; its jaws and fangs were dreadful, like the mouth of a cavern. With gaping mouth and flickering tongue, its belly was lean—ever ravenous for prey.

Word by Word

• प्रोद्धूतबललाङ्गूलदंष्ट्रोत्कटगुहामुखः: with a powerfully brandished tail, formidable fangs, and cave-like mouth
• प्रोद्धूतबललाङ्गूलदंष्ट्रोत्कटगुहामुखः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-उद्धूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; प्र-उद्-धू धातोः क्त) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + लाङ्गूल (प्रातिपदिक) + दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्कट (प्रातिपदिक) + गुहा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘प्रोद्धूतं बलवत् लाङ्गूलं यस्य, दंष्ट्रा उत्कटा, गुहावत् मुखं यस्य’ (one whose tail is violently brandished and strong, whose fangs are formidable, whose mouth is like a cave)

• व्यावृतास्यः: with mouth wide open
• व्यावृतास्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-आ-वृत् (धातु) + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘व्यावृतम् आस्यं यस्य’ (with mouth wide-open)

• ललज्जिह्वः: with a quivering tongue
• ललज्जिह्वः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ललत्/लल (प्रातिपदिक; ‘trembling/moving’) + जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘ललज्जिह्वा’ (having a quivering/moving tongue)

• क्षामकुक्षिः: with a lean belly
• क्षामकुक्षिः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षाम (प्रातिपदिक) + कुक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘क्षामः कुक्षिः यस्य’ (having a lean belly)

• चिखादिषुः: devoured
• चिखादिषुः: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: खाद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी; देशी/काव्य-प्रयोगे पुनरुक्त-आगमः (ci-augment): ‘he devoured/kept devouring’

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) narrating to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vivid close-up of the lion: tail flung high, cavern-like jaws, dreadful fangs, mouth wide with lolling tongue, lean belly—restless, ravenous, and terrifyingly alive.

Characters & Entities

• Siṃha (lion-form of wrath)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Unchecked anger becomes predatory and consuming; the terrifying form teaches the need for inner restraint.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse is descriptive narration.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.