Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

ततो निहतपुत्रा सा दितिराराध्य कश्यपम् । अयाचत वरं देवी पुत्रमन्यं महाबलम्

Transliteration

tato nihataputrā sā ditirārādhya kaśyapam | ayācata varaṃ devī putramanyaṃ mahābalam

Translation

Alors Diti, dont les fils avaient été tués, apaisa Kaśyapa par sa dévotion. La déesse demanda une grâce : un autre fils, d’une grande force.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Discourse link/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (काल/क्रमवाचक) — indeclinable adverb ‘then/thereafter’

• निहतपुत्रा: having slain sons / whose sons were killed
• निहतपुत्रा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निहत (हन् धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — feminine nominative singular; बहुव्रीहि: “निहताः पुत्राः यस्याः सा” (she whose sons were slain)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — demonstrative pronoun, feminine nominative singular

• दितिः: Diti
• दितिः: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — feminine nominative singular (apposition)

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + राध् (धातु) → आराध्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त) — gerund/absolutive: “having propitiated/worshipped”

• कश्यपम्: Kaśyapa
• कश्यपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — masculine accusative singular

• अयाचत: asked/begged
• अयाचत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: याच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — imperfect, 3rd person singular (Parasmaipada)

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — masculine accusative singular

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — feminine nominative singular (apposition)

• पुत्रम्: a son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — masculine accusative singular

• अन्यम्: another
• अन्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — masculine accusative singular (qualifying पुत्रम्)

• महाबलम्: mighty/very strong
• महाबलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — masculine accusative singular; कर्मधारय: “महच्च तत् बलं यस्य” (very strong) qualifying पुत्रम्

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narration to sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Diti, bereaved, approaches Kaśyapa in an āśrama setting; she bows with folded hands, eyes tearful yet resolute; Kaśyapa seated in meditation posture, calm and luminous.

Characters & Entities

• Diti
• Kaśyapa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Desire and grief can turn toward tapas and supplication; yet boons must align with dharma to avoid further bondage and conflict.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced; it is a narrative transition.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Propitiation (ārādhana) is indicated generally, without specifying a particular rite.