Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

पुरा गौर्या समासक्तं ज्ञात्वा देवाः सवासवाः । मंत्रं चक्रुर्भयाविष्टा एकांते समुपाश्रिताः

Transliteration

purā gauryā samāsaktaṃ jñātvā devāḥ savāsavāḥ | maṃtraṃ cakrurbhayāviṣṭā ekāṃte samupāśritāḥ

Translation

Einst, als die Götter—zusammen mit Indra—erfuhren, dass (Śiva) Gaurī innig zugetan war, wurden sie von Furcht ergriffen und hielten in einem abgeschiedenen Ort Rat.

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly, once
• पुरा: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण) — indeclinable adverb of time

• गौर्या: by/with Gaurī
• गौर्या: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental singular

• समासक्तम्: attached, clinging
• समासक्तम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन — Past passive participle, Neuter accusative singular

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (पूर्वकाल) — gerund/absolutive “having known”

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative plural

• सवासवाः: together with Vāsava (Indra)
• सवासवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + वासव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative plural; सह-सम्बन्धे तत्पुरुषः (“with Indra”)

• मन्त्रम्: a plan/counsel (mantra)
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative singular

• चक्रुः: they made, devised
• चक्रुः: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person plural, Parasmaipada

• भयाविष्टाः: overcome by fear
• भयाविष्टाः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + आविष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Past participle used adjectivally; Masculine nominative plural; तत्पुरुषः (“overcome by fear”)

• एकान्ते: in a secluded place
• एकान्ते: Adhikarana (Location/Place)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative singular

• समुपाश्रिताः: having resorted to, having taken refuge
• समुपाश्रिताः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उप-आ-श्रि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Past participle; Masculine nominative plural

Speaker

Pulastya (narrator)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: In a hidden grove or celestial chamber, Indra and devas huddle in anxious consultation, glancing toward the direction of Śiva and Gaurī; the atmosphere is hushed, conspiratorial, and tense.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Vāsava (Indra)
• Gaurī (Pārvatī)
• Śiva (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Purāṇas depict even gods acting to preserve balance; fear here signals concern for loka-kalyāṇa (the welfare of the worlds).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of the backstory that culminates in the sanctification and praise of Īśānī-śikhara/Gaurī’s kṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it sets narrative context for the tīrtha’s māhātmya.