Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 42

Devanagari script

कृष्णस्य पादतल लके कंठे द्रुपदमत्स्ययोः । शिखंडिनस्तथा कट्यां कंठे सेनापतेस्तथा

Transliteration

kṛṣṇasya pādatala lake kaṃṭhe drupadamatsyayoḥ | śikhaṃḍinastathā kaṭyāṃ kaṃṭhe senāpatestathā

Translation

For Kṛṣṇa, it marked the sole of his foot; for Drupada and the Matsya King, the throat; for Śikhaṇḍin, the waist; and for the commander, the throat.

Word by Word

• कृष्णस्य: of Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• पादतले: on the sole of the foot
• पादतले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः—पादस्य तलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• लके: on the mark/spot (laka)
• लके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• कण्ठे: on the neck
• कण्ठे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• द्रुपदमत्स्ययोः: of Drupada and Matsya
• द्रुपदमत्स्ययोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुपद (प्रातिपदिक) + मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual); समासः—द्रुपदश्च मत्स्यश्च (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व)

• शिखण्डिनः: of Śikhaṇḍin
• शिखण्डिनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb/conjunctive: 'likewise/also')

• कट्याम्: on the waist/hip
• कट्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• कण्ठे: on the neck
• कण्ठे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• सेनापतेः: of the commander (senāpati)
• सेनापतेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेनापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; समासः—सेनायाः पतिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunctive adverb: 'also/likewise')

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A battlefield tableau where a blood-red ash-like substance lands on specific body-points of key kings and warriors—Kṛṣṇa’s foot-sole, Drupada and Matsya king’s throat, Śikhaṇḍin’s waist—signaling precisely identified marmas.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Drupada
• Matsya (king)
• Śikhaṇḍin
• Senāpati (commander-in-chief)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The narrative emphasizes the hidden vulnerability in embodied life and the supremacy of divine will over martial calculation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is specified in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.