Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

नावज्ञया प्रद्रष्टव्यस्तारकोऽयं महासुरः । सप्तमं हि दिनं तेऽद्य मध्याह्नोऽयं च वर्तते

Transliteration

nāvajñayā pradraṣṭavyastārako'yaṃ mahāsuraḥ | saptamaṃ hi dinaṃ te'dya madhyāhno'yaṃ ca vartate

Translation

Dieser große Asura Tāraka darf nicht mit Verachtung betrachtet werden. Heute ist dein siebter Tag – und es ist nun auch Mittag.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• अवज्ञया: with contempt; by disrespect
• अवज्ञया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avajñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental of manner

• प्रद्रष्टव्यः: should be looked at/observed
• प्रद्रष्टव्यः: Karya (Obligation/कार्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra√dṛś (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• तारकः: Tāraka
• तारकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महासुरः: great demon
• महासुरः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (उपसर्ग/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सप्तमम्: seventh
• सप्तमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saptama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• दिनम्: day
• दिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालवाचक

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (enclitic)

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मध्याह्नः: midday
• मध्याह्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhyāhna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वर्तते: is occurring; is (in progress)
• वर्तते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Hari (Viṣṇu) addressing Skanda

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A tense council on the battlefield: Viṣṇu/Keśava or a divine adviser warns the gods not to belittle Tāraka; the sun stands at zenith, casting hard shadows; banners still, weapons ready, faces intent.

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Viṣṇu)
• Skanda
• Tāraka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma requires vigilance: never underestimate opposition, and act with awareness of the proper time.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse emphasizes timing and strategic caution.