Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

सिंहारूढा शुद्धरूपा वारुणी पानदर्पिता । खड्गखेटकबाणाढ्यैः करैर्भाति शुभानना

Transliteration

siṃhārūḍhā śuddharūpā vāruṇī pānadarpitā | khaḍgakheṭakabāṇāḍhyaiḥ karairbhāti śubhānanā

Translation

సింహారూఢగా, శుద్ధరూపిణిగా—వారుణీ, పానదర్పంతో మత్తుగా—శుభముఖి దేవి ఖడ్గం, ఖేటకం, బాణాలతో సుసజ్జితమైన చేతులతో ప్రకాశిస్తుంది।

Word by Word

• सिंह-आरूढा: mounted on a lion
• सिंह-आरूढा: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + आरूढा (आ + √रुह् धातु; क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सिंहे आरूढा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• शुद्ध-रूपा: of pure form
• शुद्ध-रूपा: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वारुणी: Vāruṇī (the goddess/energy)
• वारुणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारुणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषनाम (देवी/शक्ति-नाम)

• पान-दर्पिता: intoxicated with drink
• पान-दर्पिता: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पान (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्पित (√दृप् धातु; क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पानेन दर्पिता/मत्ता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• खड्ग-खेटक-बाण-आढ्यैः: endowed with sword, shield, and arrows
• खड्ग-खेटक-बाण-आढ्यैः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + खेटक (प्रातिपदिक) + बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वपूर्वक बहुपदसमास; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘आढ्य’ = ‘समृद्ध/युक्त’; विशेषणम् ‘करैः’ इत्यस्य

• करैः: with (her) hands
• करैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• भाति: shines/appears
• भाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शुभ-आनना: having an auspicious face
• शुभ-आनना: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वारुणी)

Speaker

Deductive (Dharmāraṇya narrative frame): Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇyaka (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant Devī named Vāruṇī sits astride a lion, face auspicious yet fierce; multiple hands hold sword, shield, and arrows, suggesting readiness to defend the sacred precinct.

Characters & Entities

• Vāruṇī Devī
• Lion mount

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devī’s protective beauty and weapon-bearing power signify that compassion and fierce guardianship coexist in divine dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya, where named Śakti-forms like Vāruṇī are celebrated as protectresses.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None stated; the verse provides iconographic description useful for contemplation and worship.