Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 82

Devanagari script

नेत्ररज्ज्वा दृढं बद्ध्वा धर्षयंति मनस्विनः । कुचरूपैर्महादंडैस्ताड्यमानमचेतसम्

Transliteration

netrarajjvā dṛḍhaṃ baddhvā dharṣayaṃti manasvinaḥ | kucarūpairmahādaṃḍaistāḍyamānamacetasam

Translation

眼に縄をかけて固く縛り、猛き者どもは彼を責めさいなむ。彼は意識を失い、異様に重い大杖で打ち据えられる。

Word by Word

• नेत्ररज्ज्वा: with a rope (tied to/for) the eyes
• नेत्ररज्ज्वा: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रज्जु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नेत्रस्य रज्जुः)

• दृढम्: firmly
• दृढम्: Sambandha (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverbial accusative)

• बद्ध्वा: having bound
• बद्ध्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• धर्षयन्ति: they torment, harass
• धर्षयन्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धर्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मनस्विनः: the strong-minded (tormentors)
• मनस्विनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• कुचरूपैः: with ugly forms
• कुचरूपैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुचरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (कुचरूप = कुत्सितं च रूपं च)

• महादण्डैः: with great clubs/rods
• महादण्डैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः

• ताड्यमानम्: being beaten
• ताड्यमानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताड् (धातु) + ताड्यमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमान-कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अचेतसम्: unconscious, senseless
• अचेतसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Vyāsa (continuation of explanation)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Yonikunda (contextual continuation)

Type: kund

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Nṛpa-sattama (royal interlocutor)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A symbolic naraka tableau: fierce attendants bind a condemned figure with a rope across/at the eyes; heavy staffs raised; the victim appears senseless—emphasis on allegory of blindness and consequence rather than gore.

Characters & Entities

• Naraka (implied)
• Daṇḍa (staff)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Purāṇa uses vivid consequences to deter adharma, urging restraint, purity, and compassion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named in the verse; it supports Dharmāraṇya’s māhātmya by contrasting Dharma’s path with hellish outcomes.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; the passage functions as a moral deterrent rather than a ritual instruction.