Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

अव्याहतबलैश्वर्यो हतशत्रुर्निरामयः । निर्धूताखिलपापौघः शास्ता राज्यमकंटकम्

Transliteration

avyāhatabalaiśvaryo hataśatrurnirāmayaḥ | nirdhūtākhilapāpaughaḥ śāstā rājyamakaṃṭakam

Translation

അവ്യാഹത ബലവും ഐശ്വര്യവും ഉള്ളവനായി, ശത്രുക്കളെ നശിപ്പിച്ച്, നിരാമയനായി, സകല പാപപ്രവാഹവും തൂത്തെറിഞ്ഞ്—അവരോദ്ധരഹിതവും കണ്ഠകരഹിതവും ആയ രാജ്യം ഭരിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• अव्याहतबलैश्वर्यः: whose strength and sovereignty are unharmed
• अव्याहतबलैश्वर्यः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्याहत + बल + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘अव्याहतं बलं च ऐश्वर्यं च यस्य’)

• हतशत्रुः: whose enemies are slain
• हतशत्रुः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (कृदन्त; √हन्) + शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त ‘हत’; बहुव्रीहिः (‘हताः शत्रवो यस्य’)

• निरामयः: free from illness
• निरामयः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + आमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘निरामय’ = disease-free

• निर्धूताखिलपापौघः: whose entire flood of sins is washed away
• निर्धूताखिलपापौघः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्धूत (कृदन्त; निर् + √धू) + अखिल + पाप + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-कृदन्त ‘निर्धूत’ = shaken off; बहुव्रीहिः (‘निर्धूतः अखिलपापौघः यस्य’)

• शास्ता: the ruler/governor
• शास्ता: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि-नाम (ruler/governor)

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• अकण्टकम्: without obstacles
• अकण्टकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग-युक्त (‘without thorns/obstacles’)

Speaker

Mahāmuni (to the King) (contextual attribution within Brahmottarakhaṇḍa narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A king/devotee after Śaiva purification: robust, disease-free, crowned, holding a scepter; defeated enemies lay down arms; the kingdom is shown as a thornless path with flourishing fields and calm citizens, with Śiva’s emblem blessing from above.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purification and dharmic devotion are shown to stabilize society—health, victory over hostility, and obstacle-free governance arise from inner cleansing.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse describes kingly fruits associated with the surrounding Śaiva observance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct procedure is stated in this verse; it continues the phala-śruti of Rudra-centered worship described in the passage.