Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

अखंडमाखंडलवत्कोदंडकलयन्रणे । पलायमानैरालोकिशत्रुसैन्यबलाहकैः

Transliteration

akhaṃḍamākhaṃḍalavatkodaṃḍakalayanraṇe | palāyamānairālokiśatrusainyabalāhakaiḥ

Translation

अखण्डल इव अजेयः स रणमध्ये कोदण्डं प्रचालयामास; पलायमानैः शत्रुसैन्यबलाहकैः सर्वतोऽपि विद्रवद्भिः दृश्यते स्म।

Word by Word

• अखण्डम्: unbroken, intact
• अखण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival use)

• आखण्डलवत्: like Indra (Ākhaṇḍala)
• आखण्डलवत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आखण्डल + वत् (प्रातिपदिक + तद्धित)
• Form: अव्ययभावेन उपमानवाचक-तद्धितान्त (वत्), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; विशेषण

• कोदण्डम्: bow
• कोदण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोदण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• कलयन्: wielding/holding
• कलयन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कल् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• पलायमानैः: by those fleeing
• पलायमानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पलायम् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present middle participle); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• आलोकि: visible, seen
• आलोकि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आलोकि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the following noun)

• शत्रु-सैन्य-बलाहकैः: by the cloud-like masses of the enemy army
• शत्रु-सैन्य-बलाहकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु + सैन्य + बलाहक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शत्रोः सैन्यस्य बलाहकाः)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A heroic king stands firm in battle, bow raised; enemy ranks scatter like dark monsoon clouds torn by wind; the hero’s aura evokes Indra’s unbroken might.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Ākhaṇḍala)
• Divodāsa (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When power is aligned with dharma, it becomes protective strength—capable of dispersing oppression without inner fracture.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse serves the Kāśī-māhātmya narrative by portraying the protector-king associated with Vārāṇasī; the tirtha is contextual rather than explicit.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a martial description supporting the narrative.