Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

देवीदत्तातुलबलो बर्बरीकोऽभ्यभाषत । यदि वो मानसं वीरा उपायस्य प्रदर्शने

Transliteration

devīdattātulabalo barbarīko'bhyabhāṣata | yadi vo mānasaṃ vīrā upāyasya pradarśane

Translation

Barbarīka, dem die Göttin unvergleichliche Kraft verliehen hatte, sprach: „O ihr Helden, wenn euer Sinn darauf gerichtet ist, die Methode zu sehen…“

Word by Word

• देवीदत्तातुलबलः: (he) Devīdatta, of incomparable strength
• देवीदत्तातुलबलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवीदत्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अतुल (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण-समासः (कर्मधारय) — ‘देवीदत्तः’ इति नाम + ‘अतुलबलः’

• बर्बरीकः: Barbarīka
• बर्बरीकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्बरीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अभ्यभाषत: spoke, addressed
• अभ्यभाषत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्गः अभि-

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्ययम् (conditional particle)

• वः: of you / to you (pl.)
• वः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) वा चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूपम्

• मानसम्: mind, intention
• मानसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘इच्छा/मतम्’ अर्थे

• वीराः: O heroes
• वीराः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), बहुवचन

• उपायस्य: of the means/method
• उपायस्य: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रदर्शने: in (the act of) demonstrating
• प्रदर्शने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘प्रदर्शन’ = showing/demonstration

Speaker

Barbarīka

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Barbarīka, radiant with Devī-bestowed strength, addresses assembled heroes, poised to demonstrate a decisive method; the moment is a charged pause before action.

Characters & Entities

• Barbarīka
• Devī (Goddess)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Power is portrayed as Devī’s gift, reminding that true might is ultimately derived from the divine and should be demonstrated responsibly.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it introduces a demonstration rather than a rite.