Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

नमः श्रीराम भक्ताय अक्षविध्वंसनाय च । नमो रक्षःपुरीदाहकारिणे वज्रधारिणे

Transliteration

namaḥ śrīrāma bhaktāya akṣavidhvaṃsanāya ca | namo rakṣaḥpurīdāhakāriṇe vajradhāriṇe

Translation

礼敬圣罗摩（Śrī Rāma）之 भक्त，礼敬摧灭阿叉（Akṣa）者；礼敬焚烧罗刹之城者，礼敬执金刚（vajra）般威力者。

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayoga (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (नमः-प्रयोगः; नमस्कारार्थक)

• श्रीरामभक्ताय: to the devotee of Śrī Rāma
• श्रीरामभक्ताय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीराम + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• अक्षविध्वंसनाय: to the destroyer of Akṣa
• अक्षविध्वंसनाय: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्ष + विध्वंसन (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayoga (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (नमः-प्रयोगः; नमस्कारार्थक)

• रक्षःपुरीदाहकारिणे: to the burner of the demon-city (Laṅkā)
• रक्षःपुरीदाहकारिणे: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षःपुरी + दाहकारिन् (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'कारिन्' प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun)

• वज्रधारिणे: to the wielder of the thunderbolt
• वज्रधारिणे: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'धारिन्' प्रत्ययान्त (possessor)

Speaker

Brāhmaṇas (hymnic salutations within the narrative)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A devotional tableau: brāhmaṇas chant salutations; behind them, visionary vignettes show Hanumān leaping, slaying Akṣa, and the blazing Laṅkā city; Hanumān appears as vajra-like warrior yet serene devotee.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Rāma
• Hanumān
• Akṣa
• Rākṣasas (Laṅkā)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotion to Rāma empowers righteous courage—strength becomes dharmic when used to protect and restore order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is praised; the verse recalls sacred history (Laṅkā episode) to glorify Hanumān.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicitly, stuti (praise) and namaskāra (salutation) as devotional practice.