Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 9
शंकुकर्णं कृशास्यं च ऊर्ध्वकेशं भयानकम् । देवानां नाशनार्थाय मानुषाणां विशेषतः । आकृष्टं दानवेंद्रेण मंत्रैः शुक्रप्रदर्शितैः । अवध्यं सर्वशस्त्राणामस्त्राणां च विशेषतः
śaṃkukarṇaṃ kṛśāsyaṃ ca ūrdhvakeśaṃ bhayānakam | devānāṃ nāśanārthāya mānuṣāṇāṃ viśeṣataḥ | ākṛṣṭaṃ dānaveṃdreṇa maṃtraiḥ śukrapradarśitaiḥ | avadhyaṃ sarvaśastrāṇāmastrāṇāṃ ca viśeṣataḥ
«كانت له آذانٌ كالمسامير، ووجهٌ هزيل، وشَعرٌ قائمٌ مرعب؛ وقد استُجلب لإهلاك الآلهة، ولا سيّما البشر. استدعاه سيّدٌ من سادة الدانافا بتعاويذ علّمها شوكرا، وكان لا يُنال بسلاحٍ من الأسلحة، ولا سيّما بالأسلحة الإلهية (الأسترا).»
Sūta (continuing narration)
Listener: Ṛṣis (implied)
Scene: A terrifying, gaunt, spike-eared being with hair standing upright is shown as a daitya-king performs mantra-summoning taught by Śukra; the creature radiates invulnerability, defying weapons and astras.
FAQs
Power gained through mantra and hostility becomes a threat to cosmic order; the Purāṇas contrast such misuse with dharmic worship that protects and restores harmony.
The chapter’s tīrtha (Vāstupada) is the implied setting; this verse supplies the mythic cause that later justifies special worship there.
No prescription; the verse mentions mantras as a narrative device (summoning), not as a recommended practice.