Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4
ततः समभवद्युद्धं देवानां दानवैः सह । गणैश्च विकृताकारैर्मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्
tataḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ devānāṃ dānavaiḥ saha | gaṇaiśca vikṛtākārairmṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam
Darauf entbrannte der Kampf zwischen den Göttern und den Dānavas, ebenso gegen Scharen von Gaṇas mit furchterregend entstellter Gestalt—dort war Umkehr gleichbedeutend mit dem Tod.
Sūta (implied continuation of narration)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A vast battlefield where devas clash with asuras; Śiva’s gaṇas—grotesque, awe-inspiring attendants—surge forward, and the atmosphere suggests that retreat is fatal.
FAQs
When dharma and adharma clash, neutrality and retreat are depicted as spiritually perilous; one must stand with righteousness despite fear.
The narrative is embedded in the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra glorification, though this verse itself is battle-focused.
None.