Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 3
स शंकरवराद्दैत्यो देवदानवरक्षसाम् । अवध्यो योषितं मुक्त्वा सर्वेषां प्राणिनां भुवि
sa śaṃkaravarāddaityo devadānavarakṣasām | avadhyo yoṣitaṃ muktvā sarveṣāṃ prāṇināṃ bhuvi
ذلك العفريت، ببركةٍ نالها من شنكرة (شيفا)، صار غير قابل للقتل على يد الآلهة والدانافا والراكشسا؛ بل على يد جميع الكائنات على الأرض، ما عدا امرأةً واحدة.
Pulastya
Tirtha: Arbuda
Type: peak
Listener: Ṛṣis/Śaunaka group (typical)
Scene: A formidable asura stands empowered by Śaṅkara’s boon; celestial beings recoil, realizing none can defeat him except a woman—an ominous yet hopeful turning point.
FAQs
Boons and power remain subordinate to divine order; the Devī embodies the dharmic resolution beyond worldly invincibility.
The verse supports the māhātmya of Kātyāyanī’s cave shrine, where her identity as Śumbha’s slayer is celebrated.
None; it establishes the theological premise for Devī’s victory and the sanctity of her abode.