Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 45

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वानुरक्तं रुद्राभ्यां नवरुद्रास्ततो द्रुतम् । विव्यधुर्विशिखैः शूलैः शरीरममरद्विषः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvānuraktaṃ rudrābhyāṃ navarudrāstato drutam | vivyadhurviśikhaiḥ śūlaiḥ śarīramamaradviṣaḥ

Translation

Seeing him engaged with the two Rudras, the nine Rudras swiftly pierced the body of the foe of the gods with their tridents, sharp as arrows.

Word by Word

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययीभाव-स्वरूप (indeclinable verbal)

• anuraktam: attached/devoted
• anuraktam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anurakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past participial adjective), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• rudrābhyām: by the two Rudras
• rudrābhyām: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), द्विवचन

• nava-rudrāḥ: the nine Rudras
• nava-rudrāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः—द्विगु (nava-saṅkhyāyuktāḥ rudrāḥ)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तदनन्तर (consequential adverb)

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• vivyadhuḥ: they pierced
• vivyadhuḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√vyadh (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• viśikhaiḥ: pointed, barbed
• viśikhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśikha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• śūlaiḥ: with tridents/spears
• śūlaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• śarīram: the body
• śarīram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• amara-dviṣaḥ: of the enemy of the gods
• amara-dviṣaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक) + dviṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (amarān dviṣṭi iti)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Nine Rudras appear and, seeing the foe locked with the two Rudras, instantly spear him with tridents ‘sharp as arrows’—a synchronized, multi-directional strike.

Characters & Entities

• Rudras
• Amaradviṣ (demon foe of the gods)
• Bhava
• Kapālī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Divine protection manifests as coordinated support—when dharma is challenged, help arises from many forms of the same Supreme.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is referenced in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None is mentioned.