Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

ततः समभवद्युद्धं देवानां दानवैः सह । गणैश्च विकृताकारैर्मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्

Transliteration

tataḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ devānāṃ dānavaiḥ saha | gaṇaiśca vikṛtākārairmṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam

Translation

Thereupon a battle arose between the gods and the demons, and also with gaṇas of fearsome, distorted forms—where turning back meant courting death itself.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तस्मात्/अनन्तरम् (then/thereafter)

• समभवत्: arose, happened
• समभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• दानवैः: with the demons (Dānavas)
• दानवैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/with)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक (with)

• गणैः: with the hosts (gaṇas)
• गणैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/with)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• विकृताकारैः: of grotesque forms
• विकृताकारैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/with)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकृत + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (विकृतः आकारः येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; गणैः इति विशेषण

• मृत्युम्: death
• मृत्युम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made, causing
• कृत्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having made/caused’

• निवर्तनम्: withdrawal, turning back
• निवर्तनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कृत्वा इत्यस्य कर्म

Speaker

Sūta (implied continuation of narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vast battlefield where devas clash with asuras; Śiva’s gaṇas—grotesque, awe-inspiring attendants—surge forward, and the atmosphere suggests that retreat is fatal.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Dānavas
• Gaṇas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When dharma and adharma clash, neutrality and retreat are depicted as spiritually perilous; one must stand with righteousness despite fear.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative is embedded in the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra glorification, though this verse itself is battle-focused.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.