Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

ततो हरिः स्कंदमाह किमेतेन तव प्रभो । दैत्याधमेन पापेन मुहूर्तं पश्य मे बलम्

Transliteration

tato hariḥ skaṃdamāha kimetena tava prabho | daityādhamena pāpena muhūrtaṃ paśya me balam

Translation

Then Hari (Viṣṇu) said to Skanda: “Lord, what need have you of this sinful, lowest of demons? For a moment, behold my strength.”

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — then

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — nominative singular

• स्कन्दम्: Skanda
• स्कन्दम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अह्/√ब्रू (ब्रू धातु; ‘आह’ परस्मैपदी परिपूर्ण-भूत)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्ण), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — perfect, 3rd sg

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — interrogative ‘what’

• एतेन: with this; by this (one)
• एतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन — instrumental singular ‘with/by this’

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन — genitive singular ‘of you/your’

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन — vocative singular

• दैत्याधमेन: by the vile demon
• दैत्याधमेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; ‘अधमो दैत्यः’ इति कर्मधारय

• पापेन: sinful
• पापेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन — instrumental singular; विशेषण (qualifying दैत्याधमेन)

• मुहूर्तम्: for a moment
• मुहूर्तम्: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular (time-accusative)

• पश्य: see; behold
• पश्य: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (पश् धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन — imperative, 2nd sg

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन — genitive singular ‘my’

• बलम्: strength; power
• बलम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular

Speaker

Hari (Viṣṇu)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Vishnu addresses Skanda mid-battle, urging him to pause and witness Vishnu’s might against the demon.

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Viṣṇu)
• Skanda
• Daitya (demon)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The guardians of dharma act to protect cosmic balance, taking responsibility so that the righteous mission proceeds unhindered.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is mentioned in this verse; it is a dialogue within the divine battle narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse centers on divine resolve and prowess.