Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4
ततः समभवद्युद्धं देवानां दानवैः सह । गणैश्च विकृताकारैर्मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्
tataḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ devānāṃ dānavaiḥ saha | gaṇaiśca vikṛtākārairmṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam
عندئذٍ اندلعت معركةٌ بين الآلهة والدانَفَة، وكذلك مع جموع الغَنا ذوي الهيئات المشوّهة المروّعة؛ وهناك كان الرجوعُ كمن يطلب الموت بيده.
Sūta (implied continuation of narration)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A vast battlefield where devas clash with asuras; Śiva’s gaṇas—grotesque, awe-inspiring attendants—surge forward, and the atmosphere suggests that retreat is fatal.
FAQs
When dharma and adharma clash, neutrality and retreat are depicted as spiritually perilous; one must stand with righteousness despite fear.
The narrative is embedded in the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra glorification, though this verse itself is battle-focused.
None.