Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

केचिच्च नक्रवदनाः सारमेयमुखाः परे । सृगालवदनाश्चान्य उष्ट्राभवदनाः परे

Transliteration

kecicca nakravadanāḥ sārameyamukhāḥ pare | sṛgālavadanāścānya uṣṭrābhavadanāḥ pare

Translation

Les uns avaient un visage de crocodile; d’autres, un visage de chien. Certains étaient à face de chacal, et d’autres portaient des visages semblables à celui du chameau.

Word by Word

• kecit: some
• kecit: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• nakra-vadanāḥ: crocodile-faced
• nakra-vadanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nakra (प्रातिपदिक) + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (crocodile-faced)

• sārameya-mukhāḥ: dog-faced
• sārameya-mukhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sārameya (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (dog-faced)

• pare: others
• pare: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• sṛgāla-vadanāḥ: jackal-faced
• sṛgāla-vadanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sṛgāla (प्रातिपदिक) + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (jackal-faced)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• anye: others
• anye: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• uṣṭrābha-vadanāḥ: camel-faced / camel-like-faced
• uṣṭrābha-vadanāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक) + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (camel-like-faced / having camel faces)

• pare: others
• pare: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Narrator (context not specified in snippet; likely a purāṇic narrator within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close-up vignettes of grotesque yet vivid faces: crocodile-snouted, dog-faced, jackal-faced, camel-faced beings, each with distinct textures—scales, fur, sharp teeth—set against a smoky, turbulent backdrop.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Purāṇa uses extraordinary forms to evoke awe and humility before the divine forces that guard and govern the worlds.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.