Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

कृष्णांजनचयप्रख्यं कृष्णाम्बरविभूषितम् । रक्ताक्षमायतभुजं सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम्

Transliteration

kṛṣṇāṃjanacayaprakhyaṃ kṛṣṇāmbaravibhūṣitam | raktākṣamāyatabhujaṃ sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitam

Translation

അവൻ കറുത്ത അഞ്ജനക്കൂമ്പാരത്തെപ്പോലെ ശ്യാമൻ, കറുത്ത വസ്ത്രങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കൃതൻ; രക്തവർണ്ണ കണ്ണുകൾ, ദീർഘഭുജങ്ങൾ, എല്ലാ ഭീകരലക്ഷണങ്ങളാലും ചിഹ്നിതൻ।

Word by Word

• कृष्ण-अञ्जन-चय-प्रख्यम्: resembling a mass of black collyrium
• कृष्ण-अञ्जन-चय-प्रख्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक) + चय (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णाञ्जनचयस्य प्रख्यः = like a heap of black collyrium)

• कृष्ण-अम्बर-विभूषितम्: adorned with black garments
• कृष्ण-अम्बर-विभूषितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-समासः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कृष्णेन अम्बरेण विभूषितम्)

• रक्त-अक्षम्: red-eyed
• रक्त-अक्षम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (रक्तम् अक्षम् यस्य)

• आयत-भुजम्: long-armed
• आयत-भुजम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयत (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (आयताः भुजाः यस्य)

• सर्व-लक्षण-लक्षितम्: marked with all characteristics
• सर्व-लक्षण-लक्षितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षित (कृदन्त; √लक्ष् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-समासः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वैः लक्षणैः लक्षितम् = marked by all signs)

Speaker

Unknown (Revā Khaṇḍa narrative voice)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā (Narmadā)

Type: river

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Revā Khaṇḍa audience (unspecified)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pitch-dark, black-clad figure with red eyes and long arms advances—every feature signaling dread and authority; the aura is heavy, tamasic, and inescapable.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic texts often teach through striking visions: the terrifying form underscores the seriousness of karmic law and ethical restraint.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tirtha is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is descriptive characterization within an admonitory narrative.