Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 55
Devanagari script
ध्वजं शरेण तीक्ष्णेन निचकर्तामरद्विषः । सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन रथनीडादपाहरत्
Transliteration
dhvajaṃ śareṇa tīkṣṇena nicakartāmaradviṣaḥ | sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena rathanīḍādapāharat
Translation
他用一支利箭射断了众神之敌的旗帜，又用一支月牙铲箭将车夫从战车座位上击落。
Word by Word
dhvajambanner/standard
dhvajam:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootdhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
śareṇawith an arrow
śareṇa:
Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootśara (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
tīkṣṇenasharp
tīkṣṇena:
Karaṇa (Instrument qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roottīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; śareṇa इति विशेषणम्
nicakartacut down
nicakarta:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootni-√kṛt (धातु)
Formलिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
amaradviṣaḥof the enemy of the gods
amaradviṣaḥ:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootamara + dviṣ (प्रातिपदिके)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अमराणां द्विट् = enemy of the gods)
sārathimcharioteer
sārathim:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsārathi (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
caand
ca:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)
asyaof him
asya:
Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
bhallenawith a bhalla-arrow
bhallena:
Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootbhalla (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (a kind of arrow)
rathanīḍātfrom the chariot-seat
rathanīḍāt:
Apādāna (Source/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootratha + nīḍa (प्रातिपदिके)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रथस्य नीडम् = chariot-seat/nest)
apāharatcarried off/removed
apāharat:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootapa-√hṛ (धातु)
Formलङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
Speaker
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrating to the sages (deduced)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A sharp arrow severs the enemy’s banner; it spirals down like a fallen standard. A crescent-headed bhalla strikes the charioteer, lifting him from the seat—reins slacken, the chariot lurches.
FAQs
Adharma loses its ‘standard’ and support when confronted by disciplined dharma—symbolized by the banner cut down and the charioteer removed.
No sacred site is praised in this verse; it is part of a war episode.
None.