Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

निमेषात्सोभिसंस्तम्भ्य दानवो दारुणाकृतिः । जग्राह पट्टिशं दैत्यो गिरीणामपि भेदनम्

Transliteration

nimeṣātsobhisaṃstambhya dānavo dāruṇākṛtiḥ | jagrāha paṭṭiśaṃ daityo girīṇāmapi bhedanam

Translation

In a mere moment, the dreadful-looking Dānava steadied himself and seized a paṭṭiśa (battle-axe), a weapon able to cleave even mountains.

Word by Word

• nimeṣāt: from (within) a blink
• nimeṣāt: Apadana (Source/अपाादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nimeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine, Ablative singular: 'from/within a blink')

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular pronoun)

• abhi-saṃstambhya: having braced/steadied (himself)
• abhi-saṃstambhya: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/Adverbial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi (उपसर्ग) + saṃ + stambh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); धातु: स्तम्भ् (to stiffen/stop); उपसर्गयुक्त (having suddenly stiffened/checked)

• dānavaḥ: the demon (Dānava)
• dānavaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• dāruṇa-ākṛtiḥ: of dreadful appearance
• dāruṇa-ākṛtiḥ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत् (Feminine, Nominative singular; 'having a terrible form')

• jagrāha: seized, took up
• jagrāha: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (he seized)

• paṭṭiśam: a battle-axe
• paṭṭiśam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṭṭiśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative singular)

• daityaḥ: the Daitya (demon)
• daityaḥ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular; in apposition to dānavaḥ)

• girīṇām: of mountains
• girīṇām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive plural)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: 'even/also')

• bhedanam: a splitter, means of breaking
• bhedanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhedana (प्रातिपदिक; from bhid धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular; 'instrument/means' as object)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A terrifying Dānava, regaining composure in an instant, gripping a heavy paṭṭiśa; the weapon gleams with the implied power to cleave rock; dust and wind swirl around him.

Characters & Entities

• Dānava
• Daitya
• Paṭṭiśa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Unchecked ferocity quickly regathers strength; the verse highlights how tamasic resolve can re-arm itself in an instant.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is mentioned here.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.