Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

केनचित्त्वथ कालेन संग्रामे दानवैः सह । युयुधे पुरतः शंभोर्नानागणसमन्वितः

Transliteration

kenacittvatha kālena saṃgrāme dānavaiḥ saha | yuyudhe purataḥ śaṃbhornānāgaṇasamanvitaḥ

Translation

Then, at a certain time, in battle with the Dānavas, he fought in the forefront before Śambhu (Śiva), accompanied by many bands of gaṇas.

Word by Word

• केनचित्: by some (i.e., after some)
• केनचित्: Adhikarana (Time-instrument/अधिकरण-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयबोधक निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Sequencer/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तरबोधक (sequencing particle)

• कालेन: in time / after some time
• कालेन: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• संग्रामे: in battle
• संग्रामे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• दानवैः: with the Dānavas
• दानवैः: Sahakaraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (postposition/adverb ‘together with’)

• युयुधे: fought
• युयुधे: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पुरतः: in front of
• पुरतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb: ‘in front of’)

• शंभोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• नाना: various
• नाना: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषणार्थक (indeclinable used adjectivally: ‘various’)

• गणसमन्वितः: accompanied by various troops
• गणसमन्वितः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (गणैः समन्वितः = accompanied by troops)

Speaker

Pulastya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Bhadrakarṇa-associated kṣetra (implied)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Nṛpaśreṣṭha (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Bhadrakarṇa gaṇa leads many gaṇas in battle against Dānavas, positioned before Śambhu as the divine commander; weapons clash, yet Śiva’s calm presence dominates.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Śambhu)
• Dānavas
• Gaṇas
• Bhadrakarṇa (Gaṇa)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotional service to Śiva includes courageous protection of dharma, depicted through the gaṇas’ role in cosmic battles.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative supports the māhātmya of Bhadrakarṇa’s tīrtha (Bhadrakarṇa Mahāhrada and its liṅga), explaining its sanctity through mythic history.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; this verse is narrative (itihāsa-style) rather than prescriptive.