Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

खरो विधुतलांगूलः कुजम्भस्याभवद्ध्वजे । महिषस्य च गोमायुः कांतो हैमस्तथां बभौ

Transliteration

kharo vidhutalāṃgūlaḥ kujambhasyābhavaddhvaje | mahiṣasya ca gomāyuḥ kāṃto haimastathāṃ babhau

Translation

En el estandarte de Kujambha había un asno, con la cola azotando; y para Mahiṣa apareció como emblema un chacal (gomāyu) dorado y resplandeciente.

Word by Word

• kharaḥ: donkey
• kharaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• vidhuta-lāṅgūlaḥ: having a shaken/wagging tail
• vidhuta-lāṅgūlaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidhuta (कृदन्त; √dhū/धू धुनने, क्त) + lāṅgūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः)

• kujambhasya: of Kujambha
• kujambhasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kujambha (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू सत्तायाम्)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• dhvaje: on the banner/standard
• dhvaje: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• mahiṣasya: of Mahiṣa
• mahiṣasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• gomāyuḥ: jackal
• gomāyuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gomāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kāntaḥ: beautiful, pleasing
• kāntaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• haimaḥ: golden
• haimaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: haima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tathā: thus, likewise
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• babhau: shone/appeared
• babhau: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhā (भा दीप्तौ)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A battlefield assembly: Kujambha’s towering banner shows a donkey with a violently lashing tail; beside it Mahiṣa’s standard bears a gleaming golden jackal, both fluttering above armored asuras and chariots.

Characters & Entities

• Kujambha
• Mahiṣa
• Dhvaja (banner)
• Khara (donkey)
• Gomāyu (jackal)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The emblems of adharma are marked by ominous, predatory symbolism—external splendor (gold) can still signify inner cruelty.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.