Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 46

Devanagari script

कुसुमैरायुधैर्हारैर्भूषिता परिचारकैः । साट्टहासं प्रमुंचंती भैरवी भैरवस्वना

Transliteration

kusumairāyudhairhārairbhūṣitā paricārakaiḥ | sāṭṭahāsaṃ pramuṃcaṃtī bhairavī bhairavasvanā

Translation

Parée par ses serviteurs de fleurs, d’armes et de colliers, Bhairavī—à la voix pareille à celle de Bhairava—éclata d’un rire puissant et retentissant.

Word by Word

• कुसुमैः: with flowers
• कुसुमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• आयुधैः: with weapons
• आयुधैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• हारैः: with necklaces/garlands
• हारैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• भूषिता: adorned
• भूषिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भूष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परिचारकैः: by attendants
• परिचारकैः: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिचारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• अट्टहासम्: loud laughter
• अट्टहासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अट्टहास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रमुञ्चन्ती: uttering/letting out
• प्रमुञ्चन्ती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + मुच् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भैरवी: Bhairavī (the goddess)
• भैरवी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• भैरव-स्वना: with a terrifying sound
• भैरव-स्वना: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'having a Bhairava-like sound')

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Setukṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The Goddess, now fully armed and garlanded, erupts into resonant, terrifying laughter; attendants hold flowers and weapons; the air vibrates with her Bhairava-like voice.

Characters & Entities

• Bhairavī
• Bhairava
• Devī (Durgā)
• Attendants (paricārakāḥ)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devī’s aṭṭahāsa signifies fearless sovereignty: when dharma is empowered, adharma trembles before divine resolve.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Setu (Setubandha/Rāmeśvaram) is the section’s sacred setting; this verse emphasizes Devī’s martial-theophanic presence rather than a local shrine.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; it depicts devotional adornment and the Goddess’s awe-inspiring response.