Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

ध्वजं शरेण तीक्ष्णेन निचकर्तामरद्विषः । सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन रथनीडादपाहरत्

Transliteration

dhvajaṃ śareṇa tīkṣṇena nicakartāmaradviṣaḥ | sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena rathanīḍādapāharat

Translation

D'une flèche acérée, il trancha l'étendard de l'ennemi des dieux, et d'un trait en croissant, il éjecta le cocher de son siège.

Word by Word

• dhvajam: banner/standard
• dhvajam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• śareṇa: with an arrow
• śareṇa: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• tīkṣṇena: sharp
• tīkṣṇena: Karaṇa (Instrument qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; śareṇa इति विशेषणम्

• nicakarta: cut down
• nicakarta: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√kṛt (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• amaradviṣaḥ: of the enemy of the gods
• amaradviṣaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara + dviṣ (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अमराणां द्विट् = enemy of the gods)

• sārathim: charioteer
• sārathim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārathi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• asya: of him
• asya: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• bhallena: with a bhalla-arrow
• bhallena: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhalla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (a kind of arrow)

• rathanīḍāt: from the chariot-seat
• rathanīḍāt: Apādāna (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha + nīḍa (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रथस्य नीडम् = chariot-seat/nest)

• apāharat: carried off/removed
• apāharat: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: apa-√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sharp arrow severs the enemy’s banner; it spirals down like a fallen standard. A crescent-headed bhalla strikes the charioteer, lifting him from the seat—reins slacken, the chariot lurches.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Adharma loses its ‘standard’ and support when confronted by disciplined dharma—symbolized by the banner cut down and the charioteer removed.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No sacred site is praised in this verse; it is part of a war episode.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.