Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 68
Devanagari script
ततस्तौ सुमहायुद्धे संसक्तौ देवदैत्ययौः । धर्माधर्माविवोदग्रौ जगदाश्चर्यकारकौ
Transliteration
tatastau sumahāyuddhe saṃsaktau devadaityayauḥ | dharmādharmāvivodagrau jagadāścaryakārakau
Translation
Then, in that tremendous battle, the god and the demon engaged closely—like Dharma and Adharma locked in combat—creating wonder for the whole world.
Word by Word
ततःthen
ततः:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then)
तौthose two
तौ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम
सुमहायुद्धेin a very great battle
सुमहायुद्धे:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘अतिमहद् युद्धम्’ इति (very great battle)
संसक्तौengaged, locked (in combat)
संसक्तौ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootसम् + √सञ्ज् (धातु) → संसक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; भूतकृदन्त-क्त (engaged/locked in)
देवदैत्ययौःthe god and the demon
देवदैत्ययौः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (the god and the demon)
धर्माधर्मौdharma and adharma
धर्माधर्मौ:
Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व (dharma and adharma)
इवlike
इव:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उपमानवाचक (like/as)
उदग्रौlofty, intense
उदग्रौ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootउदग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; विशेषण (lofty/vehement)
जगत्of the world
जगत्:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootजगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (वैकल्पिकं: प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन); अत्र षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषे पूर्वपद (of the world)
आश्चर्यकारकौcausing wonder (to the world)
आश्चर्यकारकौ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootआश्चर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; ‘आश्चर्यं करोति’ इति (causing wonder)
Speaker
Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages
Visual Art Cues
Scene: Skanda and Tāraka locked in close combat, weapons flashing; the scene is framed allegorically—light vs shadow, order vs chaos—evoking Dharma and Adharma personified.
Characters & Entities
S
Skanda (Deva)T
Tāraka (Daitya)D
DharmaA
AdharmaFAQs
Human history mirrors a larger metaphysical struggle: dharma and adharma contend, but dharma’s champion ultimately prevails.
No specific site is mentioned; the focus is the cosmic symbolism of the duel.
None.