Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 90

Devanagari script

तदा सुरासुराः सर्वे ममंथुः क्षीरसागरम् । एकीभूत्वा बलेनैवमतिमात्रं बलोत्कटाः

Transliteration

tadā surāsurāḥ sarve mamaṃthuḥ kṣīrasāgaram | ekībhūtvā balenaivamatimātraṃ balotkaṭāḥ

Translation

Da rührten alle Götter und Asuras gemeinsam den Milchozean; durch bloße Kraft vereint, wurden sie in ihrem Ringen überaus mächtig.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adverbial (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय

• सुरासुराः: gods and demons
• सुरासुराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ममन्थुः: churned
• ममन्थुः: Kriyā (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्थ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• क्षीरसागरम्: the ocean of milk
• क्षीरसागरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर + सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षीरस्य सागरः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एकीभूत्वा: having united
• एकीभूत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: एकी-√भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive); ‘having become one/united’

• बलेन: by strength
• बलेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• अतिमात्रम्: excessively/very much
• अतिमात्रम्: Adverbial (Degree)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (अतिशयेन मात्रा यस्य/अतिमात्र); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (excessively)

• बलोत्कटाः: mighty in strength
• बलोत्कटाः: Karta (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल + उत्कट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (बलेन उत्कटाः/बलोत्कटाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (सुरासुराः)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Both sides pull in synchrony; muscles taut; the serpent-rope vibrates; the ocean forms a powerful vortex around Mandara, suggesting immense force and unity.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Asuras
• Kṣīrasāgara (Ocean of Milk)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even rivals can be compelled into cooperation for a higher objective, yet mere strength without discernment can invite danger later.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The setting is Kedārakhaṇḍa’s Shaiva sacred frame; this verse itself focuses on the cosmic event rather than a local tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is descriptive of the churning.