Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 2

Devanagari script

स तद्भीमं महारौद्रं दक्षिणं वक्त्रमव्ययम् । महादंष्ट्रोत्कटारावं पातालतलसंनिभम्

Transliteration

sa tadbhīmaṃ mahāraudraṃ dakṣiṇaṃ vaktramavyayam | mahādaṃṣṭrotkaṭārāvaṃ pātālatalasaṃnibham

Translation

ତେବେ (ପ୍ରଭୁ) ନିଜ ଦକ୍ଷିଣ ମୁଖ ପ୍ରକାଶ କଲେ—ଅବ୍ୟୟ, ଭୟଙ୍କର, ମହାରୌଦ୍ର; ମହାଦଂଷ୍ଟ୍ରଯୁକ୍ତ ଉଗ୍ର ଗର୍ଜନାଶୀଳ, ପାତାଳତଳ ସଦୃଶ।

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tadbhīmam: that terrible (one)
• tadbhīmam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad + bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (tat eva bhīmam)

• mahāraudram: very fierce
• mahāraudram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + raudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dakṣiṇam: right (southern)
• dakṣiṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vaktram: face / mouth
• vaktram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• avyayam: imperishable
• avyayam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mahādaṃṣṭra: having huge fangs
• mahādaṃṣṭra: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + daṃṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-निर्देश)

• utkaṭārāvam: with a dreadful roar
• utkaṭārāvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: utkaṭa + ārāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pātāla-tala-saṃnibham: resembling the floor of Pātāla
• pātāla-tala-saṃnibham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pātāla + tala + saṃnibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (pātālasya talaṃ iva saṃnibham)

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya (continuing narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A colossal southern face of the Lord emerges—dark as the netherworld, roaring, with fearsome fangs—filling the horizon like a living abyss.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Pātāla

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The same deity who grants peace also embodies awe-inspiring power that subdues cosmic disorder.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tirtha is specified; the verse is a theological description of Śiva’s form.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is descriptive (dhyāna-worthy imagery).