Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

तेन चक्रेण सोश्विभ्यां चिच्छेद रथकूबरम् । जग्राहाथ धनुर्दैत्यः शरांश्चाशीविषोपमान्

Transliteration

tena cakreṇa sośvibhyāṃ ciccheda rathakūbaram | jagrāhātha dhanurdaityaḥ śarāṃścāśīviṣopamān

Translation

Mit diesem Wurfrad hieb er die Deichsel (Jochbalken) des Wagens der beiden Aśvins entzwei. Dann ergriff der Daitya seinen Bogen und nahm Pfeile, gleich giftigen Schlangen.

Word by Word

• तेन: with that
• तेन: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; सर्वनाम (referring to the discus)

• चक्रेण: with the discus
• चक्रेण: Karaṇa (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

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

• अश्विभ्याम्: from the two Aśvins
• अश्विभ्याम्: Apādāna (Ablative/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी/तृतीया द्विवचन-रूप; अत्र पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative) ‘from the two Aśvins’ (severing away)

• चिच्छेद: cut off
• चिच्छेद: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रथकूबरम्: the chariot-pole
• रथकूबरम्: Karman (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ+कूबर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; समासः—रथस्य कूबरम् (the pole/yoke of the chariot)

• जग्राह: seized
• जग्राह: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (then/now)

• धनुः: a bow
• धनुः: Karman (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• दैत्यः: the demon
• दैत्यः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्तृपद (apposition to सः)

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karman (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• आशीविषोपमान्: like venomous snakes
• आशीविषोपमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशीविष+उपमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन; समासः—आशीविष इव उपमानाः (like venomous serpents); विशेषण (qualifying शरान्)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The Daitya hurls/spins the discus; it slices through the Aśvins’ chariot pole. Immediately he draws a bow and lifts a quiver of arrows depicted as writhing, serpent-like shafts with venomous aura.

Characters & Entities

• Aśvins
• Daitya (demon warrior)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even divine protectors face adversity; steadiness and righteous resolve (dharma-yuddha) are praised over panic.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it is part of a heroic battle narration within the Māheśvarakhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it focuses on martial action and the use of weapons.