Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 111

Devanagari script

तपसा तेन महता अजेयो वृत्र उच्यत । तस्माच्छंभुं समभ्यर्च्य प्रदोषे विधिनाऽधुना

Transliteration

tapasā tena mahatā ajeyo vṛtra ucyata | tasmācchaṃbhuṃ samabhyarcya pradoṣe vidhinā'dhunā

Translation

Durch jene große Askese wurde Vṛtra als „unbesiegbar“ bezeichnet. Darum verehre Śambhu zur Pradoṣa-Zeit, auch jetzt, nach dem rechten Ritus.

Word by Word

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) एकवचनम्

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (तपसा सह: 'by that')

• महता: great
• महता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• अजेयः: unconquerable
• अजेयः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• वृत्रः: Vṛtra
• वृत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्

• उच्यत: was called
• उच्यत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect/Past) प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd) एकवचनम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अपादान/हेतु-अर्थे निपातवत् (therefore/from that)

• शम्भुम्: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचनम्

• समभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• समभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्तम् (gerund): 'having duly worshipped'

• प्रदोषे: at twilight (pradoṣa)
• प्रदोषे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/Locative) एकवचनम्

• विधिना: by the prescribed method
• विधिना: Karana (Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) एकवचनम्

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्ययम् (now/at present)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Pradoṣa (Śiva-pradoṣa) in Kedāra context

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Twilight (pradoṣa) at a Śiva shrine: devotees and sages perform orderly worship—lighting lamps, offering bilva and water to Śambhu; the sky is indigo with the last orange band; the mood is calm and corrective.

Characters & Entities

• Vṛtra
• Śambhu (Śiva)
• Pradoṣa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When worldly power becomes overwhelming, refuge in Śiva through timely worship (Pradoṣa) is taught as the dharmic remedy.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedārakhaṇḍa frames the instruction; the emphasis is on the sacred time of Pradoṣa rather than a single named tirtha in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform Śiva (Śambhu) worship specifically at Pradoṣa, following the prescribed vidhi (ritual procedure).