Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

कमंडलुधराः काश्चित्कशाखङ्गधराः पराः । पाशांकुशधरा काचित्खड्गखेटकधारिणी

Transliteration

kamaṃḍaludharāḥ kāścitkaśākhaṅgadharāḥ parāḥ | pāśāṃkuśadharā kācitkhaḍgakheṭakadhāriṇī

Translation

Certaines portaient le kamandalu; d’autres tenaient fouets et épées. L’une avait le lasso et l’aiguillon; une autre brandissait épée et bouclier.

Word by Word

• kamaṃḍalu-dharāḥ: bearing water-pots
• kamaṃḍalu-dharāḥ: Karta (Subject attribute/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kamaṃḍalu + dhara (प्रातिपदिक; dhṛ (धातु) → dhara)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (form used adjectivally for group), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (उपपद: ‘kamaṃḍalu’ as object borne)

• kāścit: some (of them)
• kāścit: Karta (Subject subset/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक-सर्वनाम (some)

• kaśā-khaṅga-dharāḥ: bearing whips and swords
• kaśā-khaṅga-dharāḥ: Karta (Subject attribute/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaśā + khaṅga + dhara (प्रातिपदिक; dhṛ (धातु) → dhara)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (kaśā and khaṅga as items borne)

• parāḥ: others
• parāḥ: Karta (Subject subset/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (others)

• pāśāṃkuśa-dharā: bearing a noose and a goad
• pāśāṃkuśa-dharā: Karta (Subject attribute/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāśa + aṃkuśa + dharā (प्रातिपदिक; dhṛ (धातु) → dharā)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (pāśa and aṃkuśa as items borne)

• kācit: one (of them)
• kācit: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक-सर्वनाम (a certain one)

• khaḍga-kheṭaka-dhāriṇī: bearing sword and shield
• khaḍga-kheṭaka-dhāriṇī: Karta (Subject attribute/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khaḍga + kheṭaka + dhāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक; dhṛ (धातु) → dhāriṇī)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (khaḍga and kheṭaka as items borne)

Speaker

Vyāsa

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close-up procession of distinct goddesses: one with kamaṇḍalu, another with whip and sword, one with pāśa and aṅkuśa, another with sword and shield—each poised, alert, and radiant.

Characters & Entities

• Devīs
• Kamaṇḍalu
• Pāśa
• Aṅkuśa
• Khaḍga
• Kheṭaka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The divine defends dharma through varied powers—ascetic symbols (kamaṇḍalu) and martial implements—showing completeness of protection.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya is the sacred landscape under threat, motivating the devīs’ armed response.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it catalogs the devīs’ attributes and weapons.