Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 51

Devanagari script

ततो मुहूर्तमात्रेण पद्मानि दश केशवः । चकर्त्त मार्गे बहुभिर्विचरन्दैत्यसत्तमान्

Transliteration

tato muhūrtamātreṇa padmāni daśa keśavaḥ | cakartta mārge bahubhirvicarandaityasattamān

Translation

Then, in but a moment, Keśava cut down ten ‘Padma’ divisions along the battlefield route, moving through and striking many of the foremost daityas.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• muhūrta-mātreṇa: within just a moment
• muhūrta-mātreṇa: Karaṇa (Instrument/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मुहूर्तस्य मात्रया)

• padmāni: lotuses (lotus-like openings/holes)
• padmāni: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अत्र कर्म (objects)

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (to padmāni)

• keśavaḥ: Keśava
• keśavaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• cakartta: made/formed
• cakartta: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛt (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; रूपम् ‘चकर्त’ (छन्दसि/पाठभेदे द्वित्व-लेखन)

• mārge: on the path/way
• mārge: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• bahubhiḥ: with many
• bahubhiḥ: Karaṇa/Hetu (with many [as accompaniment])
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (to daityasattamān)

• vicaran: moving about/wandering
• vicaran: Karta (Agent as participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-car (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (to keśavaḥ)

• daitya-sattamān: the best of the demons
• daitya-sattamān: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दैत्येषु सत्तमाः)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Within a mere moment, Keśava cuts down ten ‘Padma’ divisions while moving along the battle route, striking many foremost daityas.

Characters & Entities

• Keśava
• Daityas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Adharma, however vast, is shown as finite before the swift resolve of the Divine who safeguards cosmic order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it continues the war episode within the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse focuses on the scale and speed of the battle.