Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

तारकोनाम दैत्येंद्रः सुरकेतुरनिर्ज्जितः । तस्याभावाय भगवाञ्जनयिष्यति यं शिवः

Transliteration

tārakonāma daityeṃdraḥ suraketuranirjjitaḥ | tasyābhāvāya bhagavāñjanayiṣyati yaṃ śivaḥ

Translation

There is a lord of demons named Tāraka, the banner of the gods’ foes, unconquered. For his destruction, the Blessed Śiva will beget one (a son).

Word by Word

• tārakaḥ: Tāraka
• tārakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Kriya-viseshana (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) — ‘नाम’ = by name

• daityendraḥ: lord of the demons
• daityendraḥ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दैत्यानाम् इन्द्रः); पुंलिङ्ग, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• suraketuḥ: banner/leader against the gods; Suraketu (epithet)
• suraketuḥ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + ketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सुराणां केतुः/ध्वजः); पुंलिङ्ग, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• anirjitaḥ: unconquered; undefeated
• anirjitaḥ: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-ji (धातु) → nirjita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) with negation a-
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘निर्जित’ + अ- (निषेध); पुंलिङ्ग, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘तारकः’ विशेषण

• tasya: of him; of that (Tāraka)
• tasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhāvāya: for the destruction/cessation
• abhāvāya: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• janayiṣyati: will beget; will cause to be born
• janayiṣyati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु) (णिच् causative: janayati)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्/Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• yam: whom
• yam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Brahmā (continuing instruction to Night; deduced)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Rātri/Vibhāvarī

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā describes Tāraka—mighty asura-lord, unconquered—then proclaims Śiva will beget a son destined to destroy him. The imagery alternates between shadowy asura power and radiant Shaiva assurance.

Characters & Entities

• Tāraka
• Daityendra (demon king)
• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When adharma becomes unconquerable by ordinary means, divine grace manifests in a new form to restore cosmic balance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; the verse is part of the Kaumārikā narrative about Skanda’s coming.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.