Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

सोऽहं दुरात्मा पापीयान्स्वैरचारी मदोत्कटः । दंडधारी दुराचारः प्रचंडो निर्घृणः खलः

Transliteration

so'haṃ durātmā pāpīyānsvairacārī madotkaṭaḥ | daṃḍadhārī durācāraḥ pracaṃḍo nirghṛṇaḥ khalaḥ

Translation

ข้านั้นเป็นผู้ใจชั่ว บาปหนักยิ่ง—ทำตามอำเภอใจ พองโตด้วยความเมามัว ข้าเป็นผู้กดขี่ถือไม้เท้า ประพฤติชั่ว ดุร้ายเกรี้ยวกราด ไร้เมตตา และต่ำช้า

Word by Word

• सः: that (one); he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; उत्तमपुरुष; एकवचन; प्रथमा (Nominative singular)

• दुरात्मा: evil-souled one
• दुरात्मा: Karta (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; कर्मधारय: दुष्टः आत्मा यस्य (evil-souled)

• पापीयान्: more sinful; worse
• पापीयान्: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; तर-तमेय-प्रत्ययः (comparative): पापीयान् = more sinful/worse; विशेषण (of ‘अहम्’)

• स्वैरचारी: self-willed; licentious
• स्वैरचारी: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वैर + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: स्वैरेण चरति (one who acts at will)

• मदोत्कटः: arrogant; intoxicated with pride
• मदोत्कटः: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद + उत्कट (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: मदेन उत्कटः (inflamed by pride/intoxication)

• दण्डधारी: rod-bearing
• दण्डधारी: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दण्ड + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: दण्डं धारयति (staff/rod-bearer)

• दुराचारः: of wicked conduct
• दुराचारः: Karta (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर् + आचार (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; कर्मधारय: दुष्टः आचारः (evil conduct / evil-doer)

• प्रचण्डः: fierce; violent
• प्रचण्डः: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रचण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण

• निर्घृणः: merciless
• निर्घृणः: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + घृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; नञ्/निर्-तत्पुरुष: घृणा नास्ति यस्य (merciless)

• खलः: villain; wicked man
• खलः: Karta (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (Nominative singular)

Speaker

Rākṣasa

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Vāmadeva

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A stark moral portrait: the rākṣasa describes himself as staff-wielding oppressor—visualize him with a heavy daṇḍa lowered in shame, surrounded by faint silhouettes of frightened beings, while the sage’s calm presence offers a path out.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Adharma is marked by arrogance, cruelty, and abuse of power; naming one’s faults truthfully is the first step toward purification.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse is a moral self-assessment.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the focus is on ethical diagnosis rather than ritual instruction.