Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

हन्यमानोऽस्त्रपूगेन रिपुभिर्युद्धदुर्मदैः । न चचाल रणे धीरः शिववर्माभिरक्षितः

Transliteration

hanyamāno'strapūgena ripubhiryuddhadurmadaiḥ | na cacāla raṇe dhīraḥ śivavarmābhirakṣitaḥ

Translation

Bien qu’assailli par des volées d’armes d’ennemis ivres de combat, le héros intrépide ne chancela pas dans la mêlée, gardé par l’armure de Śiva.

Word by Word

• हन्यमानः: being struck
• हन्यमानः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (धीरः) — Present passive participle, masc. nom. sg.

• अस्त्रपूगेन: by a multitude of weapons
• अस्त्रपूगेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पूग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अस्त्राणां पूगः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन — Instrumental sg.

• रिपुभिः: by enemies
• रिपुभिः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Instrumental pl.

• युद्धदुर्मदैः: mad with battle-fury
• युद्धदुर्मदैः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + दुर्मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (युद्धे दुर्मदाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (रिपुभिः) — masc. instr. pl.

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय — negation particle

• चचाल: moved/shook
• चचाल: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम् — Perfect, 3rd sg.

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन — Locative sg.

• धीरः: the steadfast/brave one
• धीरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nom. sg.

• शिववर्माभिरक्षितः: protected by Śivavarman
• शिववर्माभिरक्षितः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिववर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अभि√रक्ष् (धातु, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शिववर्मणा अभिरक्षितः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (धीरः) — PPP, masc. nom. sg.

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At the center of a storm of weapons, the hero stands unmoved; a subtle aura or lingam-emblem glow suggests Śiva’s armor around him; enemy weapons glance off or shatter; the hero’s gaze is calm and resolute.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Śiva-varma (Śiva’s armor)
• Ripu (enemies)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotional protection (Śiva’s grace) fortifies dharmic action—steadiness arises when duty is aligned with the divine.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular sacred site is mentioned; the verse highlights Śaiva protection within a narrative setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit ritual is prescribed; the motif is divine safeguarding (śiva-varma) rather than a stated practice.