Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

श्रूयतां नो वचो विप्रा निहतो राक्षसाधमः । वासुदेवेन देवेन चक्रेण निरकृंतत

Transliteration

śrūyatāṃ no vaco viprā nihato rākṣasādhamaḥ | vāsudevena devena cakreṇa nirakṛṃtata

Translation

«Écoutez nos paroles, ô vipras : le plus vil des rākṣasas a été mis à mort ; le divin Vāsudeva, le Deva, l’a tranché par son disque (cakra).»

Word by Word

• श्रूयताम्: let (it) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Imperative passive/impersonal: ‘let it be heard’

• नः: our
• नः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन — Genitive plural enclitic: ‘of us/our’

• वचः: words; message
• वचः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Nom./Acc. singular neuter; here object of ‘hear’: accusative sense

• विप्राः: O Brahmins
• विप्राः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Vocative plural (O Brahmins)

• निहतः: slain
• निहतः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु) → निहत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — PPP (kta), nominative singular masculine; agrees with राक्षसाधमः

• राक्षसाधमः: the vilest demon
• राक्षसाधमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — कर्मधारय: अधमो राक्षसः; nominative singular

• वासुदेवेन: by Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• देवेन: by the god
• देवेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental singular; apposition to वासुदेवेन

• चक्रेण: with the discus
• चक्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental singular (with the discus)

• निरकृन्तत: cut down; severed
• निरकृन्तत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + कृन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperfect, 3rd person singular: ‘cut down/cleft’

Speaker

Devāḥ (addressing the brāhmaṇas)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Brāhmaṇas (addressed by devas); Rājan as frame listener

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Devas address gathered brāhmaṇas with raised hands; in the background, a radiant discus (Sudarśana) is shown as the instrument of victory, with the rākṣasa’s defeat implied; brāhmaṇas’ fear turns to relief.

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva
• Cakra (discus)
• Brāhmaṇāḥ
• Rākṣasa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Lord’s protection is decisive; when dharma is threatened, divine intervention removes the obstacle and restores sacred order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya, as a protected sacred region where divine power safeguards brāhmaṇas and their rites.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse is an announcement of the demon’s defeat and the restoration of safety.