Shloka 5

देवपराजयः — शङ्करशरणागमनं स्कन्दकालीयुद्धं च | Devas’ Defeat, Refuge in Śaṅkara, and the Battle of Skanda and Kālī

Devanagari script

शिवाज्ञप्तस्तदा स्कन्दो दानवानां गणैस्सह । युयुधे निर्भयस्संख्ये महावीरो हरात्मजः

Transliteration

śivājñaptastadā skando dānavānāṃ gaṇaissaha | yuyudhe nirbhayassaṃkhye mahāvīro harātmajaḥ

Translation

Then Skanda, under Śiva’s command, fought amid the battle together with the hosts of the Dānavas—fearless in the fray, that great hero, the son of Hara.

Word by Word

• शिवाज्ञप्तः: commanded by Śiva
• शिवाज्ञप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव-आज्ञप्त (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा/आज्ञा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) ‘आज्ञप्त’ = commanded; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी) शिवस्य आज्ञप्तः

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• स्कन्दः: Skanda
• स्कन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• दानवानाम्: of the Dānavas
• दानवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• गणैः: with the troops
• गणैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (postposition) तृतीयार्थे ‘with’

• युयुधे: fought
• युयुधे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• निर्भयः: fearless
• निर्भयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of स्कन्दः)

• संख्ये: in battle
• संख्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थान/अवसरवाचक

• महावीरः: great hero
• महावीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् वीरः)

• हरात्मजः: son of Hara (Śiva)
• हरात्मजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर-आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी) हरेः आत्मजः

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Skanda
• Hara
• Danavas

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It presents the Shaiva ideal of śaraṇāgati (surrender): Skanda acts as an instrument of Śiva’s will, and that alignment with Pati (the Lord) becomes the source of fearlessness amid conflict.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Skanda’s obedience highlights Saguna Śiva as the personal Lord who commands and protects. Linga-worship trains the devotee in disciplined devotion and surrender to Śiva’s ājñā (divine ordinance), the inner basis of steadfastness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with the bhāva of offering one’s actions to Śiva, cultivating nirbhayatā (fearlessness) through devotion and remembrance.