Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

वरदाभयहस्तं च धारिणं च परश्वधम् । दधानं नागवलयकेयूरांगदमुद्रिकम्

Transliteration

varadābhayahastaṃ ca dhāriṇaṃ ca paraśvadham | dadhānaṃ nāgavalayakeyūrāṃgadamudrikam

Translation

വരദവും അഭയവും നൽകുന്ന ഹസ്തങ്ങളോടെയും പരശു ധരിച്ചും; നാഗവലയം, കേയൂരം, അങ്കദം, മുദ്രിക എന്നിവ അണിഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്ന പ്രഭുവിനെ ധ്യാനിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• वरद: boon-giving
• वरद: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक — समासाङ्ग

• अभय: fearlessness/protection
• अभय: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — समासाङ्ग

• हस्तम्: hand showing boon and fearlessness
• हस्तम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः: वरद-अभय-हस्त (द्वन्द्व/समाहार-द्वन्द्व: boon-giving and fear-dispelling hand/gesture)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• धारिणम्: bearing/holding
• धारिणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु) + in (णिनि/इन्)
• Form: कृदन्त (णिनि/इन्-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• परश्वधम्: axe
• परश्वधम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paraśvadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दधानम्: wearing/holding
• दधानम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dhā (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नाग: serpent
• नाग: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — समासाङ्ग

• वलय: bracelet/bangle
• वलय: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: valaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — समासाङ्ग

• केयूर: armlet
• केयूर: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: keyūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — समासाङ्ग

• अङ्गद: arm-ornament
• अङ्गद: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक — समासाङ्ग

• मुद्रिकम्: (with) serpent-bracelets, armlets, arm-ornaments and rings
• मुद्रिकम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudrikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक (मुद्रिका) से नपुंसकवत् रूप (काव्यप्रयोग), द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः: नाग-वलय-केयूर-अङ्गद-मुद्रिक (द्वन्द्व/समाहार: serpent-bracelets, armlets, ornaments, rings)

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual narrator in Brahmottarakhaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva with two hands in varada and abhaya, another holding paraśu; serpent bracelets and armlets; rings glinting; ornaments detailed and alive, emphasizing both tenderness and martial readiness.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Paraśu (axe)
• Varada
• Abhaya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva is both compassionate and formidable—granting boons and protection while wielding the power that cuts ignorance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the focus is Śiva’s meditative iconography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Meditative visualization of Śiva’s gestures (varada/abhaya) and implements (axe) along with his serpent ornaments.