Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

अथाहं परमक्रुद्धैर्दंडहस्तैः प्रधावितः । तस्माद्देशादपक्रांतः प्राणरक्षापरायणः

Transliteration

athāhaṃ paramakruddhairdaṃḍahastaiḥ pradhāvitaḥ | tasmāddeśādapakrāṃtaḥ prāṇarakṣāparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ദണ്ഡം കൈയിൽ പിടിച്ച അത്യന്തം ക്രുദ്ധരായവർ എന്നെ പിന്തുടർന്ന് ഓടിച്ചു. ജീവൻ രക്ഷിക്കണമെന്ന ഒരേയൊരു ലക്ഷ്യത്തോടെ ഞാൻ ആ സ്ഥലത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ഓടിപ്പോയി.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Conjunction/particle)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परमक्रुद्धैः: by the extremely angry (men)
• परमक्रुद्धैः: Karana (Instrument/Agentive means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; कृध्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• दण्डहस्तैः: by those with sticks in their hands
• दण्डहस्तैः: Karana (Instrument/Agentive means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘दण्डः हस्ते येषाम्’ (having sticks in hand)

• प्रधावितः: chased
• प्रधावितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-धाव् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (driven/chased)

• तस्मात्: from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• देशात्: place, region
• देशात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• अपक्रान्तः: having fled, having retreated
• अपक्रान्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past active participle in sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राणरक्षापरायणः: intent on saving (my) life
• प्राणरक्षापरायणः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; ‘प्राणरक्षायां परायणः’ (devoted to saving life)

Speaker

The King (continuing his account)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Śiva-mandira precinct (Pampā)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: वरानना

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Men with sticks rush toward a frightened dog near the temple gate; the dog darts away, dust rising, festival lights behind, tension between sacred celebration and harshness.

Characters & Entities

• men with sticks
• Śiva temple (context)
• king (past-life as dog)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even amidst fear and rejection, proximity to sacred worship can leave a lasting spiritual imprint that later bears fruit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Indirectly, the Śiva temple precinct is emphasized as powerful—so potent that even an accidental connection becomes meaningful.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse narrates an obstacle encountered during a festival setting.