Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

ऋद्धयः सर्वदेवानां गृहीतास्तेन सर्वतः । महाभूतस्वरूपेण स एव च जगत्पतिः

Transliteration

ṛddhayaḥ sarvadevānāṃ gṛhītāstena sarvataḥ | mahābhūtasvarūpeṇa sa eva ca jagatpatiḥ

Translation

彼は四方より諸天の力と繁栄をことごとく奪い、さらに大元素そのものの姿を取り、ただ一人、世界の主として立ち現れた。

Word by Word

• ṛddhayaḥ: prosperities, powers
• ṛddhayaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• sarva-devānām: of all the gods
• sarva-devānām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां देवानाम्)

• gṛhītāḥ: seized, taken
• gṛhītāḥ: Kriya (Result state/क्रिया-फल)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gṛhīta (कृदन्त; √grah (धातु) क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• tena: by him
• tena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• sarvataḥ: everywhere, on all sides
• sarvataḥ: Desha (Adverbial location/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय; sarva + tas)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (adverb: from all sides/everywhere)

• mahā-bhūta-svarūpeṇa: in the form of the great elements
• mahā-bhūta-svarūpeṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास (महाभूतानां स्वरूपेण)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• eva: indeed, alone
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• jagat-patiḥ: lord of the world
• jagat-patiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः पतिः)

Speaker

Suras (the Devas), addressing Svayambhū (Brahmā)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Prabhu (the addressed lord)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An asura stands विशाल (towering), surrounded by swirling representations of the five great elements—earth, water, fire, wind, ether—while the Devas appear diminished, their emblems and glories drawn toward him like stolen light.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Mahābhūtas (great elements)
• Jagatpati (world-lord)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When adharma rises, it can appear to dominate even cosmic powers; dharma is restored only through rightful divine order, not mere force.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it functions as narrative groundwork within the Kaumārikākhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; this verse describes the cosmic imbalance caused by the asura’s domination.