Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 62

Devanagari script

महाभुजसहस्राढयां महातेजोभिबृंहिताम् । तत्तद्घोरप्रहरणां रणकौतुकसादराम्

Transliteration

mahābhujasahasrāḍhayāṃ mahātejobhibṛṃhitām | tattadghorapraharaṇāṃ raṇakautukasādarām

Translation

അവൾ ആയിരം മഹാബാഹുക്കളാൽ നിറഞ്ഞും അപാര തേജസ്സാൽ വർദ്ധിച്ചും നിന്നു. നാനാവിധ ഭീകരായുധങ്ങൾ ധരിച്ചു, യുദ്ധകൗതുകത്തിനായി ഭക്തിപൂർവ്വം ഉത്സുകയായി.

Word by Word

• महाभुजसहस्राढयाम्: rich/abounding in thousands of mighty arms
• महाभुजसहस्राढयाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महान् (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (fem. acc. sg.)

• महातेजोभिः: with great splendors/energies
• महातेजोभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महान् (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; साधन/हेतु (instr. pl.)

• बृंहिताम्: made great/expanded
• बृंहिताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृंह् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (fem. acc. sg.)

• तत्: that (each)
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; पुनरुक्त-निर्देशार्थम् (demonstrative used correlatively)

• तत्: that (very)
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; पुनरुक्त-निर्देशार्थम् (demonstrative used correlatively)

• घोरप्रहरणाम्: having dreadful weapons
• घोरप्रहरणाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (fem. acc. sg.)

• रणकौतुकसादराम्: eager/attentive with delight for battle
• रणकौतुकसादराम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक) + कौतुक (प्रातिपदिक) + सादर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (fem. acc. sg.)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa context, often Skanda → Agastya)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A colossal Devī-like figure, blazing with tejas, manifests with innumerable arms, each holding a different fearsome weapon; her stance is poised, eager for battle, yet dignified and reverent.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine power is portrayed as purposeful and dharma-protecting—radiant strength aligned with righteous order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader setting is Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa, though this verse itself focuses on martial description rather than naming a specific tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it is primarily a poetic depiction within the narrative.