Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 47

Devanagari script

तां भूताविकृतिं दृष्ट्वा देवाः सेंद्रा भयावहाः । मनसा शरणं जग्मुर्वासुदेवं जगत्पतिम्

Transliteration

tāṃ bhūtāvikṛtiṃ dṛṣṭvā devāḥ seṃdrā bhayāvahāḥ | manasā śaraṇaṃ jagmurvāsudevaṃ jagatpatim

Translation

Seeing that fearful distortion among beings, the gods—even with Indra—became terrified. In their hearts they took refuge in Vāsudeva, the Lord of the universe.

Word by Word

• ताम्: that (state)
• ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• भूताविकृतिम्: the unnatural disturbance of beings
• भूताविकृतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + विकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakāla (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स-इन्द्राः: together with Indra
• स-इन्द्राः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह-अर्थ) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (सहितार्थ: ‘with Indra’)

• भयावहाः: fearful, causing fear
• भयावहाः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय + आवह (प्रातिपदिक; आ + वह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• वासुदेवम्: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवम्: Gati-Karma (Goal as object/गत्यर्थकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जगत्पतिम्: lord of the world
• जगत्पतिम्: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Devas with Indra, frightened, close their eyes and fold hands; a subtle vision of Vāsudeva appears in their hearts/sky—calm, radiant, stabilizing the chaos.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Indra
• Vāsudeva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In overwhelming crisis, even the gods practice śaraṇāgati—taking inner refuge in the Supreme Lord.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse glorifies Vāsudeva as universal refuge.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implicitly, mental surrender (mānasa-śaraṇa) is shown; no formal rite is prescribed.