Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

स शंकरवराद्दैत्यो देवदानवरक्षसाम् । अवध्यो योषितं मुक्त्वा सर्वेषां प्राणिनां भुवि

Transliteration

sa śaṃkaravarāddaityo devadānavarakṣasām | avadhyo yoṣitaṃ muktvā sarveṣāṃ prāṇināṃ bhuvi

Translation

Jener Asura war durch einen Segen (vara) von Śaṅkara (Śiva) unbesiegbar für Götter, Dānavas und Rākṣasas—ja, für alle Wesen auf Erden—außer für eine Frau.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• शंकर: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शंकर: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपद (in compound), समासाङ्ग

• वरात्: from a boon
• वरात्: Hetu/Apadana (Source/Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); समासाङ्ग

• दैत्यः: the demon
• दैत्यः: Apposition (Samanadhikarana/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• देव: gods
• देव: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपद (in compound), समासाङ्ग

• दानव: demons
• दानव: Samasa-anga (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासाङ्ग

• रक्षसाम्: of gods, demons, and rākṣasas
• रक्षसाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः: देव-दानव-रक्षसाम् (समाहार-द्वन्द्वः)

• अवध्यः: invincible / not to be slain
• अवध्यः: Karta-predicative (Kartari-viśeṣaṇa/कर्तरि विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• योषितम्: a woman
• योषितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मुक्त्वा: except (leaving aside)
• मुक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): having left/excepting

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्राणिनाम्: of living beings
• प्राणिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव्/भू)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Pulastya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Arbuda

Type: peak

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis/Śaunaka group (typical)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A formidable asura stands empowered by Śaṅkara’s boon; celestial beings recoil, realizing none can defeat him except a woman—an ominous yet hopeful turning point.

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Śumbha
• Devas
• Dānavas
• Rākṣasas
• Devī (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Boons and power remain subordinate to divine order; the Devī embodies the dharmic resolution beyond worldly invincibility.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse supports the māhātmya of Kātyāyanī’s cave shrine, where her identity as Śumbha’s slayer is celebrated.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it establishes the theological premise for Devī’s victory and the sanctity of her abode.