Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा सहस्राक्षः सृक्किणी परिलेलिहन् । कुलिशं भ्रामयामास गृहीत्वा दक्षिणे करे

Transliteration

evamuktvā sahasrākṣaḥ sṛkkiṇī parilelihan | kuliśaṃ bhrāmayāmāsa gṛhītvā dakṣiṇe kare

Translation

ఇలా చెప్పి సహస్రాక్షుడైన ఇంద్రుడు పెదవుల మూలలను నాకుతూ, కుడిచేతిలో కులిశం (వజ్రం) పట్టుకొని దానిని తిప్పసాగెను.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (indeclinable adverb of manner)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकाले कृतक्रिया (having done earlier)

• सहस्राक्षः: the thousand-eyed one (Indra)
• सहस्राक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (सहस्रम् अक्षाणि यस्य—epithet)

• सृक्किणी: (his) lips / corners of the mouth
• सृक्किणी: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृक्कि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative); द्विवचन; ‘सृक्कि’ = mouth-corners/lips

• परिलेलिहन्: was licking all around
• परिलेलिहन्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (Present); प्रथमा पुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: परि-; धातु ‘लिह्’ (to lick)

• कुलिशम्: the thunderbolt (vajra)
• कुलिशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• भ्रामयामास: made (it) whirl
• भ्रामयामास: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट् लकार (Perfect); प्रथमा पुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative) ‘भ्रामयति’ = causes to whirl

• गृहीत्वा: having seized
• गृहीत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकाले कृतक्रिया

• दक्षिणे: in the right
• दक्षिणे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/Locative); एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘करे’)

• करे: hand
• करे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/Locative); एकवचन

Speaker

Narrative voice (contextual; speaker not explicitly marked in the verse)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Arbuda

Type: peak

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra (sahasrākṣa) licks the corners of his mouth in fierce anticipation, gripping the vajra in his right hand, spinning it so it forms a bright circular arc; storm clouds coil around the mountain skyline.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Sahasrākṣa
• Kuliśa (Vajra)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It portrays how anger and pride escalate conflict, setting the stage for divine intervention that protects the devoted.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is narrative and does not directly praise a tīrtha; the location context remains Arbuda-khaṇḍa within Prabhāsa-khaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a descriptive action verse.