Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

एकवक्त्राः पंचवक्त्रा एकादशमुखाः परे । चतुर्दशमुखाः केचिद्रुद्राक्षा लोकपूजिताः

Transliteration

ekavaktrāḥ paṃcavaktrā ekādaśamukhāḥ pare | caturdaśamukhāḥ kecidrudrākṣā lokapūjitāḥ

Translation

รุดรाक्षะบางเม็ดมีหนึ่งพักตร์ บางเม็ดมีห้าพักตร์ บางเม็ดมีสิบเอ็ดพักตร์; และบางเม็ดมีสิบสี่พักตร์—รุดรाक्षะเหล่านี้เป็นที่บูชาของชาวโลก

Word by Word

• एकवक्त्राः: one-faced (having one mukhi)
• एकवक्त्राः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; (एकं वक्त्रं येषाम्) बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रयोगः, परन्तु रूपतः संख्यापूर्वपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः; विशेषणम् (रुद्राक्षाणाम्)

• पञ्चवक्त्राः: five-faced
• पञ्चवक्त्राः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; संख्यापूर्वपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः; विशेषणम्

• एकादशमुखाः: eleven-faced
• एकादशमुखाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; संख्यापूर्वपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः; विशेषणम्

• परे: others
• परे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘अन्ये’ इत्यर्थे

• चतुर्दशमुखाः: fourteen-faced
• चतुर्दशमुखाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; संख्यापूर्वपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः; विशेषणम्

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; अनिश्चित-प्रयोगः (indefinite: some)

• रुद्राक्षाः: rudrākṣa beads
• रुद्राक्षाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• लोकपूजिताः: worshipped by the world
• लोकपूजिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजित (कृदन्त; पूज्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; (लोकेन पूजिताः) तृतीया-तत्पुरुषसमासः; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-भूतकर्मणि-विशेषणम्

Speaker

Unknown (narrative voice within Brahmottara Khaṇḍa; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa addressing sages)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis/seekers (generic)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A display-like sacred arrangement of rudrākṣas labeled by mukha-count—1, 5, 11, 14—set on a cloth with bilva leaves; devotees bow in reverence.

Characters & Entities

• Rudrākṣa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Rudrākṣas are revered in multiple forms (by face-count), indicating a traditional taxonomy within Shaiva sacred culture.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse catalogs revered rudrākṣa varieties.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct injunction; it identifies commonly worshipped rudrākṣa types by mukha/vaktra count.