Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 72

Devanagari script

असुराणां विनाशाय जातं दैवविपर्ययात् । विना दैवेन जानीध्वमुद्यमो हि निरर्थकः

Transliteration

asurāṇāṃ vināśāya jātaṃ daivaviparyayāt | vinā daivena jānīdhvamudyamo hi nirarthakaḥ

Translation

Cela advint pour la destruction des asuras, par le retournement du destin divin. Sachez-le bien : sans l’ordonnance du Destin, l’effort humain est vraiment vain.

Word by Word

• असुराणाम्: of the demons
• असुराणाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• विनाशाय: for destruction
• विनाशाय: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (dative of purpose)

• जातम्: arose, was produced
• जातम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) + क्त → जात
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय

• दैवविपर्ययात्: from a reversal of fate/divine order
• दैवविपर्ययात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव-विपर्यय (प्रातिपदिक); दैव + विपर्यय
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश अव्यय/निपात; वियोगार्थक (preposition-like: without)

• दैवेन: by fate/divinity
• दैवेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• जानीध्वम्: know (you all)
• जानीध्वम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• उद्यमः: effort, endeavor
• उद्यमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (for/indeed)

• निरर्थकः: fruitless, meaningless
• निरर्थकः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरर्थक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying उद्यमः)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) speaking to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra-kṣetra (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A didactic cosmic scene: devas prosper under a turning wheel of destiny; asuras fall as the same wheel rotates—above them a subtle divine presence indicating daiva.

Characters & Entities

• Asuras
• Daiva (destiny/divine ordinance)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Human striving must align with divine order; dharmic success is ultimately secured by daiva (the higher ordinance).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tirtha is named; the teaching is embedded in Kedārakhaṇḍa’s sacred narrative context.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it offers a doctrinal maxim about daiva and the limits of mere udyama (effort).