Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

तदा ब्रह्मा ह्युवाचेदं सुरकार्यं महत्तरम् । तारकेण कृतं शंभो देवानां परमाद्भुतम्

Transliteration

tadā brahmā hyuvācedaṃ surakāryaṃ mahattaram | tārakeṇa kṛtaṃ śaṃbho devānāṃ paramādbhutam

Translation

Alors Brahmā parla : «Ô Śambhu, une affaire très grande concernant les Deva s’est produite ; quelque chose d’étonnant a été accompli par Tāraka.»

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देशार्थक

• सुरकार्यं: the gods' task/affair
• सुरकार्यं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महत्तरम्: greater, very great
• महत्तरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• तारकेण: by Tāraka
• तारकेण: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• कृतम्: done, committed
• कृतम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि (agreeing with सुरकार्यं)

• शंभो: O Śambhu
• शंभो: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• परमाद्भुतम्: most astonishing
• परमाद्भुतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of सुरकार्यं)

Speaker

Brahmā

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śambhu (Śiva)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā steps forward as spokesperson, addressing Śambhu with urgency; devas cluster behind him, their faces showing astonishment and concern; Śiva remains composed.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Śambhu
• Śiva
• Tāraka
• Deva(s)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Cosmic order is upheld through divine consultation—Brahmā turns to Śiva when a formidable adharma arises.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra-kṣetra is the narrative container; the verse itself focuses on the Tāraka crisis rather than tīrtha-phala.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a report of an urgent divine matter.