Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 30

Devanagari script

ठंठंकणो जंबरश्च स्फुलिंगास्यस्तडिद्रुचिः । दंतुरो घननादश्च नन्दकश्च तथा परः

Transliteration

ṭhaṃṭhaṃkaṇo jaṃbaraśca sphuliṃgāsyastaḍidruciḥ | daṃturo ghananādaśca nandakaśca tathā paraḥ

Translation

Je me prosterne devant les Kṣetrapālas nommés Ṭhaṃṭhaṃkaṇa, Jaṃbara, Sphuliṅgāsya (dont la bouche lance des étincelles), Taḍidruci (rayonnant comme l’éclair), Daṃtura, Ghananāda (grondant comme le nuage), et Nandaka, avec l’autre protecteur également.

Word by Word

• ठंठंकणः: Ṭhaṃṭhaṃkaṇa (a name/onomatopoetic epithet)
• ठंठंकणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ठंठंकण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जंबरः: Jaṃbara (a name)
• जंबरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जंबर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• स्फुलिंगास्यः: spark-mouthed (Sphuliṅgāsya)
• स्फुलिंगास्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्फुलिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास (one whose mouth is like sparks / has sparks as mouth)

• तडिद्रुचिः: of lightning-like radiance
• तडिद्रुचिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तडित् (प्रातिपदिक) + रुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (having lightning-like brilliance)

• दंतुरः: Daṃtura (toothed; a name)
• दंतुरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• घननादः: thunder-sounding / cloud-roaring
• घननादः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक) + नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

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

• नन्दकः: Nandaka (a name)
• नन्दकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थ (also/likewise)

• परः: another/further
• परः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dramatic night-time threshold: guardians with spark-emitting mouths, lightning-like radiance, and thunderous presence stand amid storm clouds; the devotee bows as lamps flicker in wind, emphasizing the kṣetra’s formidable sanctity.

Characters & Entities

• Kṣetrapāla (field/temple guardians)
• Ṭhaṃṭhaṃkaṇa
• Jaṃbara
• Sphuliṅgāsya
• Taḍidruci
• Daṃtura
• Ghananāda
• Nandaka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred places are protected by divine guardians; reverencing them supports dharmic worship and safe, fruitful pilgrimage.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse functions as a general kṣetra-protection hymn within the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa; a single named tirtha is not specified in this line.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A stuti/namaskāra—bowing to and invoking Kṣetrapālas by name as part of precinct worship.