Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

अयमेव हि पिंगाक्षः क्रोधरक्तांतलोचनः । दंष्ट्राकरालवदनो विद्युल्ललनभीषणः

Transliteration

ayameva hi piṃgākṣaḥ krodharaktāṃtalocanaḥ | daṃṣṭrākarālavadano vidyullalanabhīṣaṇaḥ

Translation

ଏହି ଏକେ ସେ ପିଙ୍ଗାକ୍ଷ, କ୍ରୋଧରେ ନେତ୍ରାନ୍ତ ରକ୍ତିମ; ଦଂଷ୍ଟ୍ରାଦ୍ୱାରା ବିକରାଳ ମୁଖବିଶିଷ୍ଟ, ଏବଂ ବିଦ୍ୟୁତ୍ ପରି ଭୟଙ୍କର ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ (ରୂପରେ ମଧ୍ୟ) ଅଛନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (restrictive particle)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• पिङ्गाक्षः: brown/ tawny-eyed
• पिङ्गाक्षः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिङ्ग-अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (पिङ्गे अक्षिणी यस्य)

• क्रोधरक्तान्तलोचनः: with eyes reddened at the edges by anger
• क्रोधरक्तान्तलोचनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोध-रक्त-अन्त-लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (क्रोधेन रक्तान्तं लोचनं यस्य)

• दंष्ट्राकरालवदनः: with a face made terrifying by fangs
• दंष्ट्राकरालवदनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दंष्ट्रा-कराल-वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दंष्ट्राभिः करालं वदनं यस्य)

• विद्युल्ललनभीषणः: terrifying like lightning (in appearance)
• विद्युल्ललनभीषणः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्युत्-ललन-भीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विद्युदिव ललनं/ललाटं भीषणं यस्य)

Speaker

Two Gaṇas (divine attendants)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Yama-loka / Saṃyamanī context

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Yama’s fierce aspect is revealed: tawny eyes, red-rimmed wrathful gaze, protruding fangs, a lightning-like dreadful radiance; the court darkens, emphasizing the terror reserved for adharma.

Characters & Entities

• Yama/Dharmarāja
• Gaṇas (two attendants)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The same cosmic judge can appear fearsome when confronting wrongdoing—dharma protects the righteous and chastens the sinful.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tirtha is named; the teaching belongs to Kāśīkhaṇḍa’s broader Kāśī-centered dharma instruction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it describes the fearful aspect of Yama associated with pāpa and karmic consequence.