Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

अथादाय धनुर्घोरमिषुं चाशीविषोपमम् । कुजंभोऽधावत क्षिप्रं रक्षोदेवबलं प्रति

Transliteration

athādāya dhanurghoramiṣuṃ cāśīviṣopamam | kujaṃbho'dhāvata kṣipraṃ rakṣodevabalaṃ prati

Translation

Then, taking up a dreadful bow and an arrow like a venomous serpent, Kujaṃbha swiftly charged toward the combined forces of the Rākṣasas and the gods.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Adhikaraṇa (Discourse marker/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverb): अनन्तरम् (then)

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√dā (धातु) + lyap (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘आदाय’ = गृहीत्वा (having taken)

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (accusative singular)

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Karma (Qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; dhanuḥ इति विशेषणम्

• iṣum: arrow
• iṣum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṣu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• āśīviṣopamam: like a venomous serpent
• āśīviṣopamam: Karma (Qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āśīviṣa + upama (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (आशीविषस्य उपमम्); iṣum इति विशेषणम्

• kujaṃbhaḥ: Kujambha
• kujaṃbhaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kujaṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (proper name)

• adhāvata: ran/charged
• adhāvata: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dhāv (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• kṣipram: quickly
• kṣipram: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṣipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): शीघ्रम् (quickly)

• rakṣodevabalam: the forces of the Rakṣasas and the gods
• rakṣodevabalam: Karma (Goal/object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas + deva + bala (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (रक्षसां च देवानां च बलम्)

• prati: towards/against
• prati: Dik/Pratiyogi (Direction/दिक्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition): प्रति = towards/against; द्वितीयासम्बन्धी

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) speaking to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Kujambha lifts a dreadful bow; the arrow gleams like a coiled venomous serpent—dark, wet sheen, poised to strike—then he rushes forward in a blur toward the combined host.

Characters & Entities

• Kujaṃbha
• Rākṣasas
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The verse highlights how wrath and aggression surge quickly in war; Purāṇic narratives often contrast such impulse with steadiness rooted in dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.