Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

ताड्यमानः शिरे दंडैः समालिंग्य विभावसुम् । क्षुरिकया छिद्यमानो रोरवीति महास्वनम्

Transliteration

tāḍyamānaḥ śire daṃḍaiḥ samāliṃgya vibhāvasum | kṣurikayā chidyamāno roravīti mahāsvanam

Translation

Frappé à la tête avec des bâtons, forcé d'embrasser le feu ardent et coupé par un rasoir, il gémit bruyamment dans le Rorava.

Word by Word

• ताड्यमानः: being beaten
• ताड्यमानः: Karma (Object/patient)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ताड् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्तः (शानच्/मान), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; Present passive participle, Nominative singular, Masculine

• शिरे: on the head
• शिरे: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Neuter, Locative singular

• दण्डैः: with sticks
• दण्डैः: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; Masculine, Instrumental plural

• समालिङ्ग्य: having embraced
• समालिङ्ग्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-लिङ्ग् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः; Absolutive (gerund)

• विभावसुम्: Vibhāvasu (Agni/fire)
• विभावसुम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभावसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Masculine, Accusative singular

• क्षुरिकया: with a razor/knife
• क्षुरिकया: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुरिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Feminine, Instrumental singular

• छिद्यमानः: being cut
• छिद्यमानः: Karma (Object/patient)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्तः (शानच्/मान), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गः; Present passive participle, Nominative singular, Masculine

• रोरवीति: cries/roars
• रोरवीति: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुरु/रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; Present indicative, 3rd person singular

• महास्वनम्: a great sound
• महास्वनम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महास्वन (महा + स्वन) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Masculine, Accusative singular

Speaker

Brahmā (to Nārada, inferred)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A condemned soul is struck on the head with staffs, forced to embrace a blazing mass of fire, and sliced by a razor; the air trembles with a great wail—‘mahāsvana’—in the hell called Rorava; Yama’s realm is dark, smoky, and iron-hued.

Characters & Entities

• Vibhāvasu (Agni/fire)
• Rorava (hell)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Graphic consequences underscore the sanctity of dharmic conduct and the inviolability of rightful gifts.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the focus is punitive cosmology (nāraka) rather than sacred geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it reinforces avoidance of sin and protection of dharmic donations.