Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

विकटं भीषणाकारं क्षुत्क्षाममतिलोमशम् । दावदग्धद्रुमाकारमति चंचललोचनम्

Transliteration

vikaṭaṃ bhīṣaṇākāraṃ kṣutkṣāmamatilomaśam | dāvadagdhadrumākāramati caṃcalalocanam

Translation

വികൃതവും ഭയാനകവുമായ രൂപമുള്ളവനും, വിശപ്പുകൊണ്ട് ക്ഷീണിച്ചവനും, അമിതമായി രോമമുള്ളവനുമായിരുന്നു അവൻ. കാട്ടുതീയിൽ വെന്ത മരം പോലെയിരുന്ന അവന്റെ കണ്ണുകൾ അതീവ ചഞ്ചലമായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• विकटम्: hideous, grotesque
• विकटम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• भीषण-आकारम्: of terrifying form
• भीषण-आकारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीषण (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (भीषणः आकारः यस्य)

• क्षुत्-क्षामम्: emaciated by hunger
• क्षुत्-क्षामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (क्षुधा क्षामम्)

• अति-लोमशम्: excessively hairy
• अति-लोमशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + लोमश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावसमासः (अतिशयेन लोमशम्)

• दाव-दग्ध-द्रुम-आकारम्: like a tree burnt by a forest-fire
• दाव-दग्ध-द्रुम-आकारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दाव (प्रातिपदिक) + दग्ध (कृदन्त; √दह् (धातु), क्त) + द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दावेन दग्धस्य द्रुमस्य आकारः इव)

• अति: very, exceedingly
• अति: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अतिशयवाचक (intensifier)

• चञ्चल-लोचनम्: with restless eyes
• चञ्चल-लोचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चञ्चल (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (चञ्चले लोचने यस्य)

Speaker

Skanda (contextual narration to Agastya in Kāśīkhaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣi-sabhā (frame implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A wild-haired, overgrown, hunger-wasted preta stands like a charred tree trunk after forest fire; eyes flick rapidly, conveying inner torment; background suggests scorched woodland or smoky cremation ground.

Characters & Entities

• Kāśī
• preta

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The verse dramatizes the torment of the preta-state, inviting compassion and dharmic inquiry rather than mere fear.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kāśī-kṣetra narrative framework of the Skanda Purāṇa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.