Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

तथैव वृत्रं नमुचिं रक्षो लंकेश संज्ञकम् । जघान मायया विष्णुः सुरार्थं सुरसत्तमः

Transliteration

tathaiva vṛtraṃ namuciṃ rakṣo laṃkeśa saṃjñakam | jaghāna māyayā viṣṇuḥ surārthaṃ surasattamaḥ

Translation

„So auch besiegte Viṣṇu—der Beste unter den Göttern—durch seine göttliche List Vṛtra, Namuci und den Rākṣasa, der als Herr von Laṅkā bekannt ist, zum Heil der Devas.“

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार-वाचक (thus)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• वृत्रम्: Vritra
• वृत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नमुचिम्: Namuchi
• नमुचिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रक्षः: the rakshasa (demon)
• रक्षः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘लंकेशसंज्ञकम्’ इति विशेषण-सम्बन्ध

• लंकेश: lord of Lanka
• लंकेश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लंकेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (लङ्कायाः ईशः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; अत्र ‘संज्ञकम्’ इति सह विशेषणांशः

• संज्ञकम्: named/called
• संज्ञकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘रक्षः’ इति विशेष्य (named/called)

• जघान: slew
• जघान: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मायया: by (his) illusion/power
• मायया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुर-अर्थम्: for the sake of the gods
• सुर-अर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (सुराणाम् अर्थः/हितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the sake of)

• सुरसत्तमः: best among the gods
• सुरसत्तमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (सुरेषु सत्तमः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘विष्णुः’ इति विशेषण/उपाधि

Speaker

Bali (Daitya king)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: a brāhmaṇa (vipra)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A triptych-like recollection: Vṛtra and Namuci subdued by divine stratagem, and the Laṅkā-lord (Rāvaṇa) overcome—while Bali narrates, emphasizing Viṣṇu’s māyā as righteous strategy for the devas’ welfare.

Characters & Entities

• Bali
• Viṣṇu
• Vṛtra
• Namuci
• Laṅkeśa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Lord preserves dharma through both might and divine strategy, protecting the cosmic order for the good of all.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Indirectly, Dvārakā is upheld as the realm of that same Viṣṇu who protects the devas and the world.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is narrative praise (stuti through kathā) of Viṣṇu’s protective acts.