Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 190

Devanagari script

ततो भीतः सहस्राक्षः संमंत्र्य गुरुणा सह । आह्वयामास वेगेन कामं क्रोधं भयं मदम्

Transliteration

tato bhītaḥ sahasrākṣaḥ saṃmaṃtrya guruṇā saha | āhvayāmāsa vegena kāmaṃ krodhaṃ bhayaṃ madam

Translation

Alors Sahasrākṣa (Indra), saisi de crainte, se consulta avec son précepteur et convoqua promptement Kāma, Krodha, Bhaya et Mada : Désir, Colère, Peur et Ivresse.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sequence marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानवाचक

• भीतः: frightened
• भीतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भी (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of सहस्राक्षः)

• सहस्राक्षः: the thousand-eyed one (Indra)
• सहस्राक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि ‘सहस्रम् अक्षाणि यस्य’ (Indra)

• संमंत्र्य: having consulted
• संमंत्र्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), ‘consulting’

• गुरुणा: with the teacher
• गुरुणा: Saha/Association (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Association marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक उपसर्गसदृश (with)

• आह्वयामास: summoned/called
• आह्वयामास: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ह्वे (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; causative sense not intended here (simple ‘called/summoned’)

• वेगेन: swiftly; with urgency
• वेगेन: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करणवाचक

• कामम्: desire
• कामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्रोधम्: anger
• क्रोधम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मदम्: pride/intoxication
• मदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे प्रायः पुं), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Pulastya (continuing narration)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Mahārāja (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra, alarmed, confers with Bṛhaspati; before them appear shadowy anthropomorphic figures—Kāma with bow, Krodha aflame, Bhaya trembling-eyed, Mada reeling—ready to be dispatched.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)
• Guru (Bṛhaspati—implied)
• Kāma
• Krodha
• Bhaya
• Mada

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual progress and sacred devotion may be challenged by inner forces—desire, anger, fear, and pride—that must be recognized and overcome.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The episode is set against the backdrop of Devī’s powerful Arbuda shrine, whose influence prompts Indra’s anxious response.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it introduces the narrative device of personified obstacles to dharma.