Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

हेडंबस्य वनं सर्वं तस्य ये सैन्यराक्षसाः । पाल्यमानास्त्वया साधो वर्धंते जनक्षेमकाः

Transliteration

heḍaṃbasya vanaṃ sarvaṃ tasya ye sainyarākṣasāḥ | pālyamānāstvayā sādho vardhaṃte janakṣemakāḥ

Translation

ಹೇಡಂಬನ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಅವನ ಸೇನೆಯ ರಾಕ್ಷಸರು—ಹೇ ಸಾಧು, ನಿನ್ನ ರಕ್ಷಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರು ಜನಕ್ಷೇಮಕರರಾಗಿ ವೃದ್ಧಿಯಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ.

Word by Word

• हेडम्बस्य: of Heḍamba
• हेडम्बस्य: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेडम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karta (Subject—‘forest’ as topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: entire, all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (Qualifier of vanam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ये: who/which
• ये: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• सैन्यराक्षसाः: the rākṣasas of the troop/army
• सैन्यराक्षसाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘सैन्याः राक्षसाः’ (army-like/army-guarding rākṣasas); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पाल्यमानाः: being protected
• पाल्यमानाः: Karta (Subject qualifier—passive participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्) कर्मणि: पाल्यमान; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘being protected/maintained’

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartr (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• साधो: O good one
• साधो: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• वर्धन्ते: they grow, prosper
• वर्धन्ते: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• जनक्षेमकाः: beneficial to the people
• जनक्षेमकाः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन + क्षेमक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘जनस्य क्षेमकाः’ (welfare-causing for people); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of the rākṣasas)

Speaker

Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira), inferred from context

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Heḍamba-vana

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A panoramic forest realm labeled Heḍamba-vana; disciplined rākṣasa troops stand guard along paths and settlements, while the righteous protector oversees them; villagers appear safe and prosperous.

Characters & Entities

• Heḍamba
• Haidamba
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Right protection and governance can transform even fierce groups into agents of public welfare.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse refers to Heḍamba’s forest domain as a setting for dharmic rule.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the focus is on protection (pālana) and social welfare as dharma.