Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

देवानृषीन्पितॄंश्चैव निर्जित्य तपसा विभुः । महेशस्य प्रसादाच्च सर्वेषामधिकोऽभवत्

Transliteration

devānṛṣīnpitṝṃścaiva nirjitya tapasā vibhuḥ | maheśasya prasādācca sarveṣāmadhiko'bhavat

Translation

Durch die Kraft seiner Askese besiegte jener Mächtige sogar die Devas, die Ṛṣis und die Pitṛs. Durch die Gnade Maheśas wurde er allen überlegen.

Word by Word

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ऋषीन्: the sages
• ऋषीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पितॄन्: the fathers/manes
• पितॄन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय; conjunction

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय; emphatic particle

• निर्जित्य: having conquered
• निर्जित्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि-√जि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (तुमुन्-न), अव्ययभाव; gerund (absolutive)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental (3rd), Singular

• विभुः: the mighty one
• विभुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महेशस्य: of Maheśa
• महेशस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; Genitive (6th), Singular

• प्रसादात्: from (his) grace
• प्रसादात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; Ablative (5th), Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय; conjunction

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive, Plural

• अधिकः: superior
• अधिकः: Karta (Predicate/विशेष्य-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate adjective; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Imperfect, 3rd person, Singular

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), by section-context deduction

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra (Kedāranātha)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis/Brāhmaṇas (assembly implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Rāvaṇa, empowered by austerity, is shown symbolically ‘overcoming’ devas, sages, and ancestors—yet the narrative underlines that this supremacy arises from Maheśa’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Ṛṣis
• Pitṛs
• Maheśa
• Rāvaṇa (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

All extraordinary attainments ultimately depend on Maheśa’s prasāda; tapas is powerful, but grace is decisive.

Which specific holy site (Tīrtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra’s Śaiva sacred geography, where the Purāṇa highlights Śiva as the giver of siddhi and supremacy.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tapas is the stated means; the verse does not specify a particular vrata, mantra, or pilgrimage act.