Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

सिंहारूढा शुद्धरूपा वारुणी पानदर्पिता । खड्गखेटकबाणाढ्यैः करैर्भाति शुभानना

Transliteration

siṃhārūḍhā śuddharūpā vāruṇī pānadarpitā | khaḍgakheṭakabāṇāḍhyaiḥ karairbhāti śubhānanā

Translation

شیر پر سوار، پاک صورت—وارُنی، پینے کے غرور سے سرشار؛ مبارک چہرے والی، اُس کے ہاتھ تلوار، ڈھال اور تیروں سے آراستہ چمکتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• सिंह-आरूढा: mounted on a lion
• सिंह-आरूढा: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + आरूढा (आ + √रुह् धातु; क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सिंहे आरूढा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• शुद्ध-रूपा: of pure form
• शुद्ध-रूपा: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वारुणी: Vāruṇī (the goddess/energy)
• वारुणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारुणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषनाम (देवी/शक्ति-नाम)

• पान-दर्पिता: intoxicated with drink
• पान-दर्पिता: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पान (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्पित (√दृप् धातु; क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पानेन दर्पिता/मत्ता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• खड्ग-खेटक-बाण-आढ्यैः: endowed with sword, shield, and arrows
• खड्ग-खेटक-बाण-आढ्यैः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + खेटक (प्रातिपदिक) + बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वपूर्वक बहुपदसमास; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘आढ्य’ = ‘समृद्ध/युक्त’; विशेषणम् ‘करैः’ इत्यस्य

• करैः: with (her) hands
• करैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• भाति: shines/appears
• भाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शुभ-आनना: having an auspicious face
• शुभ-आनना: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वारुणी)

Speaker

Deductive (Dharmāraṇya narrative frame): Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) addressing the sages

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dharmāraṇyaka (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant Devī named Vāruṇī sits astride a lion, face auspicious yet fierce; multiple hands hold sword, shield, and arrows, suggesting readiness to defend the sacred precinct.

Characters & Entities

• Vāruṇī Devī
• Lion mount

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devī’s protective beauty and weapon-bearing power signify that compassion and fierce guardianship coexist in divine dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dharmāraṇya, where named Śakti-forms like Vāruṇī are celebrated as protectresses.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None stated; the verse provides iconographic description useful for contemplation and worship.