Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

हत्वा देवगणांस्तावदसिचक्रपरद्द्विश्वधैः । गृहीत्वा शक्रभार्यां स दानवोऽपि गतो बलात्

Transliteration

hatvā devagaṇāṃstāvadasicakraparaddviśvadhaiḥ | gṛhītvā śakrabhāryāṃ sa dānavo'pi gato balāt

Translation

খড়্গ, চক্র, পরশু ও দ্বিধার অস্ত্রে দেবগণকে বধ করিয়া, সেই দানব ইন্দ্রপত্নীকেও গ্রহন করে বলপূর্বক প্রস্থান করিল।

Word by Word

• हत्वा: having slain
• हत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• देव-गणान्: the groups of gods
• देव-गणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• तावत्: so far; then
• तावत्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal/limitative particle)

• असि-चक्र-परशु-द्विश्वधैः: with swords, discs, axes, and double-edged weapons
• असि-चक्र-परशु-द्विश्वधैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + परशु (प्रातिपदिक) + द्विश्वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (शस्त्रसमूहः)

• गृहीत्वा: having seized
• गृहीत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• शक्र-भार्याम्: Indra's wife
• शक्र-भार्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शक्रस्य भार्या)

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

• दानवः: the demon
• दानवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• गतः: went
• गतः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) प्रयुक्तः कर्तरि (has gone)

• बलात्: by force
• बलात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावे ‘बलात्’ = बलपूर्वकं

Speaker

Devas (continuing their report to Brahmā)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: राजेन्द्र (king addressed)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A fierce battle: devas struck down by a demon wielding sword, discus, axe, and double-edged weapons; the demon forcibly carries away Indra’s wife Śacī.

Characters & Entities

• Andhaka (implied)
• Devas
• Indra (Śakra)
• Śacrabhāryā (Indra’s wife)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When power is divorced from dharma, it becomes violence and violation; the Purāṇic narrative frames such acts as triggers for divine rebalancing.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced; the verse focuses on the outrage that prompts divine intervention.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it describes conflict and the demon’s forcible act.