Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

हस्त्यश्वरथसम्पन्नः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः । वेदविद्याव्रतस्नातः सर्वभूताभयप्रदः

Transliteration

hastyaśvarathasampannaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | vedavidyāvratasnātaḥ sarvabhūtābhayapradaḥ

Translation

Il était pourvu d’éléphants, de chevaux et de chars; le plus éminent des porteurs d’armes; purifié par la science védique et les vœux de discipline; et dispensateur d’intrépidité à tous les êtres.

Word by Word

• हस्त्यश्वरथसम्पन्नः: endowed with elephants, horses, and chariots
• हस्त्यश्वरथसम्पन्नः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस्ति + अश्व + रथ + सम्पन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—हस्त्यश्वरथ- (द्वन्द्व/समाहार-भावः) + सम्पन्न (तत्पुरुषः: तैः सम्पन्नः)

• सर्वशस्त्रभृताम्: of all weapon-bearers
• सर्वशस्त्रभृताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + शस्त्र + भृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘भृत्’ = धारक; समासः—सर्वशस्त्र-भृत् (तत्पुरुषः)

• वरः: the best, excellent one
• वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वेदविद्याव्रतस्नातः: bathed/initiated in Vedic learning and vows
• वेदविद्याव्रतस्नातः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + विद्या + व्रत + स्नात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—वेदविद्या-व्रत-स्नात (तत्पुरुषः: वेदविद्याव्रते स्नातः/व्रतस्नातः)

• सर्वभूताभयप्रदः: giver of fearlessness to all beings
• सर्वभूताभयप्रदः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + भूत + अभय + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—सर्वभूत-अभय-प्रद (तत्पुरुषः: सर्वभूतेभ्यः अभयं प्रददाति)

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A resplendent king with elephant, horse, and chariot forces behind him; weapons-bearers in orderly ranks; the king’s face calm, suggesting vow-purified restraint and protective intent.

Characters & Entities

• Kārtavīrya (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True royal greatness combines strength with Vedic discipline and the duty to protect beings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned in this descriptive verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Vrata (disciplined observance) is referenced generally, but no specific rite is prescribed.