Previous Verse
Next Verse

Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 23

तमोगुणान्विताः सर्वे ह्यसुरा नाभ्यपूजयन् । उपहासपरास्ते वै देवान्प्रत्यसुरोत्तमाः

tamoguṇānvitāḥ sarve hyasurā nābhyapūjayan | upahāsaparāste vai devānpratyasurottamāḥ

Mais tous les Asuras, dominés par la qualité des ténèbres (tamas), n’offrirent point de culte. Ces Asuras éminents se moquèrent au contraire des dieux.

तमोगुणान्विताःendowed with tamas
तमोगुणान्विताः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootतमस् + गुण + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः: तमोगुणैः अन्विताः (endowed with the quality of tamas)
सर्वेall
सर्वे:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsarva (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; ‘असुराः’ इति विशेषणम् (all)
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (निपात) = particle ‘indeed’
असुराःthe asuras (demons)
असुराः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootasura (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; कर्ता (the demons)
not
:
Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (निषेध) = negation ‘not’
अभ्यपूजयन्worshipped
अभ्यपूजयन्:
Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअभि+पूज् (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (imperfect/past); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः: अभ्यपूजयन् (worshipped/revered)
उपहासपराःintent on mockery
उपहासपराः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootउपहास + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः: उपहासे पराः (intent on mockery)
तेthey
ते:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘असुराः’ इत्यर्थे (they)
वैindeed
वै:
Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvai (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (निपात) = particle ‘indeed/verily’
देवान्the gods
देवान्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootdeva (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया); बहुवचन; कर्म (the gods)
प्रतिtowards/against
प्रति:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootprati (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (उपसर्ग/पूर्वसर्ग-निपात) = preposition ‘towards/against’ (governs accusative)
असुरोत्तमाःthe foremost asuras
असुरोत्तमाः:
Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअसुर + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: उत्तमाः असुराः (the best among the asuras)

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) to the sages (deduced)

Scene: Asuras stand apart with darkened hues and scornful gestures, laughing and pointing toward the devas engaged in worship; the composition splits into reverent light vs. mocking shadow.

A
Asuras
D
Devas
T
Tamo-guṇa (tamas)

FAQs

Tamas expresses itself as irreverence and derision; dharmic progress requires humility and willingness to honor the sacred.

No specific tirtha is named in this verse; it serves as a moral contrast within the Kedārakhaṇḍa narrative.

None; the verse describes refusal to worship and the resulting asuric attitude.