Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

तेन चक्रेण सोश्विभ्यां चिच्छेद रथकूबरम् । जग्राहाथ धनुर्दैत्यः शरांश्चाशीविषोपमान्

Transliteration

tena cakreṇa sośvibhyāṃ ciccheda rathakūbaram | jagrāhātha dhanurdaityaḥ śarāṃścāśīviṣopamān

Translation

وبذلك القرص قطع عارضة نير العربة (كوبَرا) الخاصة بالأشفينين. ثم أمسك الدايِتيا قوسه وتناول سهامًا كالأفاعي السامة.

Word by Word

• तेन: with that
• तेन: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; सर्वनाम (referring to the discus)

• चक्रेण: with the discus
• चक्रेण: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• अश्विभ्याम्: from the two Aśvins
• अश्विभ्याम्: Apādāna (Ablative/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी/तृतीया द्विवचन-रूप; अत्र पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative) ‘from the two Aśvins’ (severing away)

• चिच्छेद: cut off
• चिच्छेद: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रथकूबरम्: the chariot-pole
• रथकूबरम्: Karman (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ+कूबर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; समासः—रथस्य कूबरम् (the pole/yoke of the chariot)

• जग्राह: seized
• जग्राह: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (then/now)

• धनुः: a bow
• धनुः: Karman (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• दैत्यः: the demon
• दैत्यः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्तृपद (apposition to सः)

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karman (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• आशीविषोपमान्: like venomous snakes
• आशीविषोपमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशीविष+उपमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन; समासः—आशीविष इव उपमानाः (like venomous serpents); विशेषण (qualifying शरान्)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The Daitya hurls/spins the discus; it slices through the Aśvins’ chariot pole. Immediately he draws a bow and lifts a quiver of arrows depicted as writhing, serpent-like shafts with venomous aura.

Characters & Entities

• Aśvins
• Daitya (demon warrior)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even divine protectors face adversity; steadiness and righteous resolve (dharma-yuddha) are praised over panic.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it is part of a heroic battle narration within the Māheśvarakhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it focuses on martial action and the use of weapons.