Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 161

Devanagari script

तपसा तेन महता तप्तमासीच्चराचरम् । तदा सुरासुराः सर्वे ब्रह्माणं शरणं गताः

Transliteration

tapasā tena mahatā taptamāsīccarācaram | tadā surāsurāḥ sarve brahmāṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ gatāḥ

Translation

By that great austerity, all that moves and all that is still was scorched; then all the devas and asuras alike went to Brahmā for refuge.

Word by Word

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• महता: great
• महता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• तप्तम्: was scorched/afflicted
• तप्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप्त (तप्-धातु; कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः कर्मणि (heated/afflicted)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• चराचरम्: the moving and the unmoving (all beings)
• चराचरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चराचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; द्वन्द्व-समासः: चर + अचर (moving + unmoving)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; कालवाचक-अव्ययम्

• सुरासुराः: gods and demons
• सुरासुराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनम्; द्वन्द्व-समासः (देवाः च असुराः च)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• शरणम्: as refuge
• शरणम्: Gati/Karma (Goal as object/गति-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; गत्यर्थक-क्रियायाः द्वितीया (as goal)

• गताः: went/approached
• गताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गत (गम्-धातु; कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (gone; used predicatively)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedāranātha kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Austere Girijā’s tapas radiates as a blazing, invisible heat; forests and beings appear scorched; devas and asuras, anxious and humbled, move together toward Brahmā’s abode.

Characters & Entities

• Pārvatī (implied)
• Devas
• Asuras
• Brahmā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True tapas is not merely personal—it has cosmic consequence; spiritual power demands responsibility and divine guidance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedārakhaṇḍa Himalayan arena is implied as a place where austerities become world-affecting, elevating the region’s mahātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it describes the intensity and effects of tapas, prompting divine consultation.