Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

अथ विद्रवमानं तब्लं प्रेक्ष्व समंततः । रुद्राः परस्परं प्रोचुरहंकारोत्थितार्चिषः

Transliteration

atha vidravamānaṃ tablaṃ prekṣva samaṃtataḥ | rudrāḥ parasparaṃ procurahaṃkārotthitārciṣaḥ

Translation

Then, seeing the forces fleeing in every direction, the Rudras—blazing with the fire born of indignant pride—spoke to one another.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरबोधक अव्यय (then)

• विद्रवमानम्: fleeing, running away
• विद्रवमानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-द्रु (धातु) → विद्रवमान (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्, present middle participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तबलम् इति)

• तबलम्: the army/host (troop)
• तबलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रेक्ष्व: having seen
• प्रेक्ष्व: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-ईक्ष् (धातु) → प्रेक्ष्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• समन्ततः: on all sides, all around
• समन्ततः: Adhikarana (Scope/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• रुद्राः: the Rudras
• रुद्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• परस्परम्: to each other, mutually
• परस्परम्: Sambandha (Reciprocal/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (mutually/to one another)

• प्रोचुः: they said, spoke
• प्रोचुः: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• अहंकार-उत्थित-अर्चिषः: whose flames arose from pride/ego
• अहंकार-उत्थित-अर्चिषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहंकार (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्थित (कृदन्त) + अर्चिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (रुद्राः इति)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The battlefield turns: troops flee in all directions; a circle of Rudras, radiant with pride-born fire, confer with sharp gestures—eyes like embers, bodies haloed by flame.

Characters & Entities

• Rudras

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When dharma’s defenders falter, the higher powers of Śiva’s retinue rouse themselves—symbolizing renewed spiritual courage and protection.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No location is specified in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.