Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 42

Devanagari script

कपर्द्दिनो वृषांकाश्च गणास्तेतिप्रहारिणः । वीरभद्रं पुरस्कृत्य वीरभद्रपराक्रमाः

Transliteration

kaparddino vṛṣāṃkāśca gaṇāstetiprahāriṇaḥ | vīrabhadraṃ puraskṛtya vīrabhadraparākramāḥ

Translation

เหล่าคณะคณา ผู้มีชฎามุ่นและมีตราโค ต่างฟาดฟันด้วยตรีศูล; ตั้งวีรภัทราไว้เบื้องหน้า แล้วรุกไปด้วยเดชกล้าดุจวีรภัทรา

Word by Word

• कपर्द्दिनः: the Kapardins (matted-haired ones)
• कपर्द्दिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपर्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वृषाङ्काः: those marked with the bull
• वृषाङ्काः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष-अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: वृषस्य अङ्कः/चिह्नम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• गणाः: troops/attendants
• गणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यर्थक/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative/thus)

• प्रहारिणः: strikers/attackers
• प्रहारिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-हारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; हृ/हन् (धातु) से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वीरभद्रम्: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुरस्कृत्य: having put in front (as leader)
• पुरस्कृत्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस्-कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय; ‘पुरस्कृत्य’ = having placed in front/leading

• वीरभद्रपराक्रमाः: having Vīrabhadra’s valor
• वीरभद्रपराक्रमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीरभद्र-पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समास: वीरभद्रस्य पराक्रमः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A disciplined phalanx of matted-haired gaṇas bearing bull emblems thrusts forward with tridents, Vīrabhadra placed prominently at the vanguard like a general.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva-gaṇas
• Vīrabhadra
• Bull emblem (Vṛṣa)
• Trident

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion manifests as disciplined service: Śiva’s gaṇas embody loyal, fearless participation in dharma’s protection.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedārakhaṇḍa provides the pilgrimage frame; this verse is primarily iconographic and narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.