Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

सा चैवाष्टभुजा रम्या मेघश्यामा मनोरमा । कृष्णांबरधरा देवी व्याघ्रवाहनसंस्थिता

Transliteration

sā caivāṣṭabhujā ramyā meghaśyāmā manoramā | kṛṣṇāṃbaradharā devī vyāghravāhanasaṃsthitā

Translation

ആ ദേവി അത്യന്തം രമണീയ, അഷ്ടഭുജ, മേഘശ്യാമ, മനോഹരയാണ്. അവൾ കറുത്ത വസ്ത്രം ധരിച്ചു വ്യാഘ്രവാഹനത്തിൽ അധിഷ്ഠിതയാണ്.

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avyaya (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• अष्टभुजा: eight-armed
• अष्टभुजा: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—अष्टौ भुजाः यस्याः (eight-armed)

• रम्या: lovely
• रम्या: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मेघश्यामा: dark like a cloud
• मेघश्यामा: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ + श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—मेघ इव श्यामा (cloud-dark)

• मनोरमा: charming
• मनोरमा: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनस् + रम (धातु/प्रातिपदिक ‘रम’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—मनः रमयति इति (delighting the mind)

• कृष्णाम्बरधरा: wearing black clothing
• कृष्णाम्बरधरा: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण + अम्बर + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कृष्णम् अम्बरं धारयति (wearing black garments)

• देवी: goddess
• देवी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्याघ्रवाहनसंस्थिता: seated on a tiger as her mount
• व्याघ्रवाहनसंस्थिता: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याघ्रवाहन + सम्-स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—व्याघ्रवाहने संस्थिता (seated/standing upon a tiger-vehicle)

Speaker

Vyāsa

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Aṣṭabhujā-Śyāmā Devī-sthāna (Dharmāraṇya)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: King

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A captivating Devī with eight arms, dark as monsoon clouds, wearing black garments, seated upon a tiger; her gaze is both enchanting and formidable, framed by forest foliage and shrine lamps.

Characters & Entities

• Devī (Śāntā/Tāmasī form)
• Tiger (vyāghra)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The kṣetra’s greatness is conveyed through vivid dhyāna-lakṣaṇa: contemplating the Goddess’ form strengthens devotion and courage.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya is the contextual sacred region where this form of the Goddess is described for worship and remembrance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The verse provides iconographic details useful for dhyāna and pūjā—eight arms, black garments, and tiger mount.