Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

त्रिशूलैरृष्टिभिः पाशैः खड्गैः परशुपाट्टिशैः । निजघ्नुः समरेन्योन्यं सुरासुरविमर्द्दने

Transliteration

triśūlairṛṣṭibhiḥ pāśaiḥ khaḍgaiḥ paraśupāṭṭiśaiḥ | nijaghnuḥ samarenyonyaṃ surāsuravimarddane

Translation

Mit Dreizacken, Speeren, Schlingen, Schwertern, Äxten und Streitäxten schlugen sie im Kampf aufeinander ein—mitten im zermalmenden Zusammenprall von Devas und Asuras.

Word by Word

• त्रिशूलैः: with tridents
• त्रिशूलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन — Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• ऋष्टिभिः: with spears
• ऋष्टिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन — Feminine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• पाशैः: with nooses
• पाशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• खड्गैः: with swords
• खड्गैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• परशुपाट्टिशैः: with axes and hatchets
• परशुपाट्टिशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परशु + पाट्टिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (axes and hatchets)

• निजघ्नुः: they struck down
• निजघ्नुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada

• समरे: in the battle
• समरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• अन्योन्यम्: each other/mutually
• अन्योन्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Reciprocal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (परस्परार्थे) — indeclinable adverbial use ‘mutually’

• सुरासुरविमर्द्दने: in the crushing/struggle of gods and demons
• सुरासुरविमर्द्दने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + असुर + विमर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सुरासुरयोः विमर्दनम्)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra (Kedārakṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dense melee: tridents, spears, nooses, swords, axes, and pattīśas flash as devas and asuras strike each other in a crushing, swirling combat mass.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Purāṇic battlefield imagery underscores the gravity of adharma’s challenge and the necessity of dharmic resistance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra region by section context; this verse is descriptive rather than tīrtha-centered.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.