Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

अथ रक्षांसि भिन्नानि वानरैर्भीमविक्रमैः । प्रदुद्रुवू रणादाशु लंकां रावणपालिताम्

Transliteration

atha rakṣāṃsi bhinnāni vānarairbhīmavikramaiḥ | pradudruvū raṇādāśu laṃkāṃ rāvaṇapālitām

Translation

ครั้นแล้วพวกรากษสถูกเหล่าวานรผู้มีเดชอันน่าหวาดหวั่นตีแตก ก็รีบหนีจากสนามรบเข้าสู่ลงกา อันทศกัณฐ์พิทักษ์รักษา

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• रक्षांसि: rākṣasas/demons
• रक्षांसि: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• भिन्नानि: broken/defeated
• भिन्नानि: Karta (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘rakṣāṃsi’)

• वानरैः: by the monkeys
• वानरैः: Karaṇa (Agent-instrument in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• भीमविक्रमैः: of terrible prowess
• भीमविक्रमैः: Karaṇa (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘vānaraiḥ’); समासः—कर्मधारय (‘भीमः विक्रमः येषाम्/भीमविक्रमाः’)

• प्रदुद्रुवुः: ran away/fled
• प्रदुद्रुवुः: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः—प्र

• रणात्: from the battle
• रणात्: Apadana (Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshaṇa (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• लङ्काम्: to Laṅkā
• लङ्काम्: Karma (Goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रावणपालिताम्: ruled/protected by Rāvaṇa
• रावणपालिताम्: Karma (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक) + पालित (पाल्-धातु, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘laṅkām’); समासः—तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (‘रावणेन पालिता’)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Rākṣasa troops in disarray running toward the gates and ramparts of Laṅkā; vānara warriors advancing with raised trees and rocks; the city walls loom with watchtowers, flags, and a sense of hurried retreat.

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas
• Vānaras
• Laṅkā
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When adharma is confronted by steadfast courage, it collapses and retreats; dharma naturally prevails.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Setubandha/Rāmeśvaram is the celebrated tīrtha in Setukhaṇḍa; Laṅkā appears as the narrative battlefield locale.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.