Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

मायाविनो महाकायाः श्यामवर्णा महोदराः । लंबभ्रूश्मश्रुनासाग्रा रक्ताक्षा रक्तमूर्धजाः

Transliteration

māyāvino mahākāyāḥ śyāmavarṇā mahodarāḥ | laṃbabhrūśmaśrunāsāgrā raktākṣā raktamūrdhajāḥ

Translation

C'étaient des êtres sorciers, au corps immense, au teint sombre et au ventre bedonnant ; aux sourcils tombants, aux moustaches épaisses, au nez proéminent, aux yeux rouges et aux cheveux roux.

Word by Word

• मायाविनः: possessing magic, deceitful
• मायाविनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मायाविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying दैत्याḥ understood)

• महाकायाः: huge-bodied
• महाकायाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् कायः येषां ते)

• श्यामवर्णाः: dark-complexioned
• श्यामवर्णाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्यामः वर्णः येषां ते)

• महोदराः: big-bellied
• महोदराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महत् उदरं येषां ते)

• लंबभ्रूश्मश्रुनासाग्राः: having drooping brows, moustaches, and nose-tips
• लंबभ्रूश्मश्रुनासाग्राः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक) + श्मश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + नासाग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (लम्बे भ्रू-श्मश्रु-नासाग्रे येषां ते)

• रक्ताक्षाः: red-eyed
• रक्ताक्षाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (रक्ते अक्षिणी येषां ते)

• रक्तमूर्धजाः: red-haired
• रक्तमूर्धजाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्धज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (रक्ताः मूर्धजाः केशाः येषां ते)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Prabhāsa Khaṇḍa Māhātmya narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Devī (address implied by surrounding verses)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A line of gigantic, sorcerous Daityas—dark-skinned, pot-bellied, with drooping brows, heavy moustaches, prominent noses, red eyes and ruddy hair—advance toward the yajña ground.

Characters & Entities

• Daityas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Adharma often appears with frightening power and deception, but it is ultimately described to be overcome by dharmic ritual and divine protection.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Prabhāsakṣetra (Prabhāsa), presented as a sacred field where yajñas are protected and divine power manifests.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No prescription here; the verse sets the scene by describing the hostile beings who threaten the sacrificial rite.