Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

दनुजैरेवमुक्तोऽसौ योद्धुकामोऽमरैः सह । महा वीर्योऽथ महिषः प्रययावमरावतीम्

Transliteration

danujairevamukto'sau yoddhukāmo'maraiḥ saha | mahā vīryo'tha mahiṣaḥ prayayāvamarāvatīm

Translation

Ainsi interpellé par les Danujas, le puissant Mahiṣa, avide de combattre les Immortels, se mit en route vers Amarāvatī.

Word by Word

• दनुजैः: by the Danu-born (demons)
• दनुजैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyavisheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• उक्तः: addressed/spoken to
• उक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• असौ: that one (he)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• योद्धुकामः: desirous to fight
• योद्धुकामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योद्धु (तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त from युध्) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (योद्धुं कामः)

• अमरैः: with the immortals (gods)
• अमरैः: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक उपपद

• महावीर्यः: of great prowess
• महावीर्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महद् वीर्यं यस्य)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/सम्बन्धसूचक (then/and)

• महिषः: Mahiṣa (the buffalo-demon)
• महिषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• प्रययौ: set out/went forth
• प्रययौ: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अमरावतीम्: Amarāvatī (Indra’s city)
• अमरावतीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमरावती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; गत्यर्थकक्रियायां कर्म (destination as object)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Mahiṣāsura departs with an asura army toward Amarāvatī; clouds churn, banners stream, and the celestial city glimmers ahead.

Characters & Entities

• Danujas
• Mahiṣa/Mahiṣāsura
• Amaras (Devas)
• Amarāvatī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It marks the turning point where aggression becomes action, setting the stage for divine intervention and restoration of cosmic balance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Amarāvatī is referenced as Indra’s celestial city; the broader text belongs to Setukhaṇḍa connected with Setu/Rāmeśvaram.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.