Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

चण्डिका च तथा देवी ह्यूर्द्ध्वबाहुश्च राक्षसः । पद्माक्षः क्षेत्रपालश्च नागश्चाश्वतरस्तथा

Transliteration

caṇḍikā ca tathā devī hyūrddhvabāhuśca rākṣasaḥ | padmākṣaḥ kṣetrapālaśca nāgaścāśvatarastathā

Translation

ତଥା ଦେବୀ ଚଣ୍ଡିକା; ଏବଂ ରାକ୍ଷସ ଊର୍ଦ୍ଧ୍ୱବାହୁ; ପଦ୍ମାକ୍ଷ ଓ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରପାଳ; ତଥା ନାଗ ଓ ଅଶ୍ୱତର—ଏମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ରକ୍ଷକ।

Word by Word

• चण्डिका: Caṇḍikā (the goddess Caṇḍikā)
• चण्डिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction: 'and')

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/also')

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

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle: emphasis/indeed)

• ऊर्ध्वबाहुः: Ūrddhvabāhu (one with raised arms)
• ऊर्ध्वबाहुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (ऊर्ध्वः बाहुः यस्य/ऊर्ध्वबाहुः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• राक्षसः: a rākṣasa (demon)
• राक्षसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पद्माक्षः: Padmākṣa (lotus-eyed)
• पद्माक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (पद्मम् इव अक्षी यस्य)

• क्षेत्रपालः: guardian of the sacred place (kṣetrapāla)
• क्षेत्रपालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षेत्रस्य पालः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नागः: Nāga (serpent being)
• नागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अश्वतरः: Aśvatara (a being named Aśvatara / 'mule')
• अश्वतरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: 'also/likewise')

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Dvārakā Māhātmya narrative style within Skanda Purāṇa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā (guardian circuit)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A fierce yet auspicious tableau: Caṇḍikā with weapons and lion aura; Ūrddhvabāhu rākṣasa towering with raised arms; Padmākṣa and Kṣetrapāla as vigilant sentinels; Nāga and Aśvatara as serpentine/horse-like guardian presences near the gate foundations.

Characters & Entities

• Caṇḍikā
• Ūrddhvabāhu
• Padmākṣa
• Kṣetrapāla
• Nāga
• Aśvatara

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A sacred city is protected by a multi-layered spiritual ecology—Deity, kṣetrapāla, and powerful beings together sustain its holiness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā and its sacred precinct (kṣetra) safeguarded by kṣetrapālas and divine forces.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No procedural rite; the mention of Kṣetrapāla supports the common Purāṇic practice of honoring the guardian before entering/performing worship.