Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

नमः खट्वांगहस्ताय नमः शूलधराय च । नमो डमरुकोदण्डकपालानलधारिणे

Transliteration

namaḥ khaṭvāṃgahastāya namaḥ śūladharāya ca | namo ḍamarukodaṇḍakapālānaladhāriṇe

Translation

カトヴァーンガ（khaṭvāṅga）を御手に持つ御方に礼拝。三叉戟を執る御方に礼拝。ḍamaru（小太鼓）、杖、髑髏、そして火を携える御方に礼拝。

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation; homage
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayojana (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/उद्गार), नमस्कारार्थक; indeclinable particle of salutation

• खट्वाङ्गहस्ताय: to the one with a khaṭvāṅga in hand
• खट्वाङ्गहस्ताय: Sampradana (Dative/Recipient of salutation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खट्वाङ्ग + हस्त (प्रातिपदिकौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (खट्वाङ्गः यस्य हस्ते/हस्तः) — ‘having a khaṭvāṅga in hand’

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayojana (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/उद्गार), नमस्कारार्थक

• शूलधराय: to the trident-bearer
• शूलधराय: Sampradana (Dative/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल + धर (धृ धातु, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शूलं धरति इति)

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

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayojana (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/उद्गार), ‘नमो’ इत्यस्य पदच्छेदे ‘नमः’

• डमरुकोदण्डकपालानलधारिणे: to the bearer of the drum, staff, skull, and fire
• डमरुकोदण्डकपालानलधारिणे: Sampradana (Dative/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डमरुक + उदण्ड + कपाल + अनल + धारिन् (धृ धातु, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास: (डमरुकं च उदण्डं च कपालं च अनलं च धारयति इति)

Speaker

Andhaka

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A fierce yet auspicious Bhairava-Śiva stands frontal: triśūla in one hand, ḍamaru sounding, khaṭvāṅga resting on shoulder, kapāla held as emblem of transcendence over death, and a small flame (agni) radiating from palm; attendants and a subtle cremation-ground horizon suggest liminality without horror.

Characters & Entities

• Andhaka
• Śiva (trident-bearer; bearer of ḍamaru, kapāla, fire)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva is praised as master of fearsome and auspicious symbols alike—signifying that the Divine transcends death, time, and impurity while protecting devotees.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is specified in this verse; it is iconographic praise within the chapter.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal rite is stated; devotional salutation and recitation are implied.