Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 54
Devanagari script
केनोपायेन भो देवास्तारकं हंतुमिच्छथ । कथयंतुत्वरेणैव कार्यं वेत्तुं ममैव हि
Transliteration
kenopāyena bho devāstārakaṃ haṃtumicchatha | kathayaṃtutvareṇaiva kāryaṃ vettuṃ mamaiva hi
Translation
«Par quel moyen, ô Deva, souhaitez-vous mettre à mort Tāraka ? Dites-le-moi sans tarder, car je dois saisir cette affaire sur-le-champ.»
Word by Word
केनby what (means)
केन:
Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; interrogative-instrumental
उपायेनby a means/strategy
उपायेन:
Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootउपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन
भोO!
भो:
Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभो (अव्यय)
Formसम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)
देवाःgods
देवाः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन
तारकम्Tāraka
तारकम्:
Karman (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतारक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन
हन्तुम्to kill
हन्तुम्:
Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
TypeVerb
Root√हन् (धातु)
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), 'to kill'
इच्छथyou (pl.) wish
इच्छथ:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√इष्/√इच्छ् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन
कथयन्तुlet them tell / tell (you all)
कथयन्तु:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√कथ् (धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, तृतीयपुरुष, बहुवचन
त्वरयाwith haste
त्वरया:
Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootत्वरा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; adverbial-instrumental 'with haste'
एवindeed / only
एव:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)
कार्यंthe matter / task
कार्यं:
Karman (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कृ (धातु) + यत्)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; 'thing to be done/matter'
वेत्तुम्to know
वेत्तुम्:
Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
TypeVerb
Root√विद् (धातु)
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), 'to know/ascertain'
ममof me / my
मम:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन
एवindeed
एव:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण-निपात
हिfor / indeed
हि:
Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle)
Speaker
Himavān (Himālaya)
Skanda Dialogue
Listener: Devas
Visual Art Cues
Scene: Himavān, radiant and composed, questions the Devas directly—his gesture indicates urgency and demand for a clear plan; the Devas appear earnest, holding their weapons and emblems lowered in respect.
Characters & Entities
H
Himavān (Himālaya)D
DevasT
TārakaFAQs
Righteous action begins with clarity—knowing the goal and the proper means before acting.
No specific tīrtha; the verse continues the Himālaya-centered sacred narrative setting.
None.