Vamana Purana — Skanda Slays Taraka & Mahisha, Shloka 68

Skanda’s Svastyayana and the Slaying of Taraka and Mahisha

Devanagari script

तथान्यैः पार्षदैर्युद्धे शूलशक्त्यृष्टिपट्टिशैः नाकम्पत् ताड्यमानो ऽपि मैनाक इव पर्वतः

Transliteration

tathānyaiḥ pārṣadairyuddhe śūlaśaktyṛṣṭipaṭṭiśaiḥ nākampat tāḍyamāno 'pi maināka iva parvataḥ

Translation

Likewise, in battle, though struck by other Pārṣadas with tridents, spears (śakti), lances (ṛṣṭi), and axes (paṭṭiśa), he did not tremble—like the mountain Maināka.

Word by Word

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक (in that manner/likewise)

• अन्यैः: by other
• अन्यैः: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument; with pārṣadaiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• पार्षदैः: by attendants/retainers
• पार्षदैः: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण/Agent group)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्षद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी (Locative) एकवचनम्

• शूलशक्त्यृष्टिपट्टिशैः: with spears, lances, javelins, and pattiśas
• शूलशक्त्यृष्टिपट्टिशैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल + शक्ति + ऋष्टि + पट्टिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (शूल-शक्ति-ऋष्टि-पट्टिश); तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

• नाकम्पत्: did not tremble
• नाकम्पत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कम्प् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect) परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्; न-निषेधपूर्वकः

• ताड्यमानः: being struck
• ताड्यमानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताड् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्तः (Present passive participle/शानच्); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधान/अपि-समुच्चयार्थक (even/also)

• मैनाकः: Maināka (mountain)
• मैनाकः: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैनाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-sambandha (उपमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्ययम् (comparative particle)

• पर्वतः: the mountain
• पर्वतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

Speakers

• Primary narrator (Purāṇic narration) describing the combat scene to the audience in the frame narrative (not explicit in the excerpt).

Primary Deities

• Shiva

Key Themes

• Andhaka Vadha cycle
• Pārṣada valor
• Simile (upamā) using sacred/mithic geography
• Invulnerability/steadfastness in battle

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "vira", "secondaryRasa": "raudra", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

Who is the one ‘not trembling’ in this verse?

The pronoun refers to the principal target described in the immediate battle context (a central demon/foe in the Andhaka war sequence). The verse highlights his battlefield endurance despite multiple weapon strikes.

What is the significance of Maināka as a comparison?

Maināka is a famed mythic mountain, often portrayed as massive and immovable; invoking it intensifies the image of unshakable firmness. In Purāṇic style, such geographical-mythic similes function as shorthand for scale and stability.

Are śakti and ṛṣṭi distinct weapons here?

Yes. In classical Sanskrit usage, śakti commonly denotes a spear/javelin (often thrown), while ṛṣṭi denotes a lance/pike (often thrust). Listing both conveys a variety of attacks—thrown and thrusting—failing to move the opponent.