Vamana Purana — Skanda Slays Taraka & Mahisha, Shloka 28

Skanda’s Svastyayana and the Slaying of Taraka and Mahisha

Devanagari script

मातरश्च तथा सर्वाः समुत्पेतुर्नभस्तलम् समं स्कन्देन बलिना हन्तुकामा महासुरान्

Transliteration

mātaraśca tathā sarvāḥ samutpeturnabhastalam samaṃ skandena balinā hantukāmā mahāsurān

Translation

তেতিয়া সকলো মাতৃকা-দেৱীয়েও বলৱান স্কন্দৰ সৈতে একেলগে আকাশমণ্ডললৈ উঠিল, মহাসুৰসকলক বধ কৰিবলৈ ইচ্ছুক হৈ।

Speakers

• Narrator voice (Purāṇic narrator) describing the action; no direct speech in this verse.

Primary Deities

• Skanda (Kārttikeya)
• Mātṛkās (Divine Mothers)

Key Themes

• Deva–Asura conflict
• Śaiva martial theology (Skanda as commander)
• Collective power of the Mātṛkās
• Cosmic movement (ascent into the sky)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "raudra", "secondaryRasa": "vira", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Who are the “Mothers” (mātaraḥ) in this context?

In Purāṇic Śaiva narratives, “Mothers” typically denotes the Mātṛkās—fierce, protective goddesses who function as Śiva’s/Skanda’s śaktis and attendants. They often appear collectively in battle episodes to overwhelm demonic forces.

What does “nabhastalam” imply here—literal sky or a mythic battlefield?

Nabhastalam literally means the ‘region of the sky.’ In battle narratives it signals a transition from terrestrial to aerial/cosmic theatre, emphasizing divine mobility and the superhuman scale of the conflict.

Is this verse connected to the Andhaka cycle?

Yes in thematic placement: the presence of Skanda, Gaṇas, and fierce divine collectives is characteristic of the Andhaka/demonic suppression cycles in Śaiva Purāṇic material, where Śiva’s hosts mobilize to destroy major Asuras.