Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 14

Devanagari script

अथ तं दूरतो दृष्ट्वा महिषं पर्वतोपमम् । आयातं रौद्ररूपेण दानवाः सर्वतश्च ते

Transliteration

atha taṃ dūrato dṛṣṭvā mahiṣaṃ parvatopamam | āyātaṃ raudrarūpeṇa dānavāḥ sarvataśca te

Translation

そのとき彼らは遠くから、山のごとき姿の水牛が、猛々しく憤怒の相をもって近づいて来るのを見た。するとダーナヴァたちは四方から集まり来た。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक/सम्बन्धबोधक (indeclinable; then/now)

• तम्: him/that one
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (singular)

• दूरतः: from a distance
• दूरतः: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb: 'from afar')

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Converb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); 'having seen'

• महिषम्: buffalo
• महिषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पर्वतोपमम्: like a mountain
• पर्वतोपमम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्वत + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपमान-तत्पुरुष: पर्वत-उपम 'mountain-like'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• आयातम्: having come/arrived
• आयातम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'come/arrived' (qualifying महिषम्)

• रौद्ररूपेण: in a fierce form
• रौद्ररूपेण: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौद्र + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (रौद्रं रूपं यस्य/रौद्ररूपम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• दानवाः: the demons (Dānavas)
• दानवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• सर्वतः: from all sides
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana (Spatial/अधिकरण-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (adverb: 'from all sides')

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

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (Subject apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: From a distance, a colossal buffalo—mountain-like—advances in a terrifying, wrathful aspect; dānavas converge from all directions, forming a tightening ring around the approaching figure.

Characters & Entities

• Dānavas
• Śiva (buffalo form, implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When adharma consolidates, divine power also manifests decisively—portrayed as awe-inspiring and protective of sacred order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The battle sequence is part of the Gaṅgādvāra-centered tīrthamāhātmya narrative, underscoring the site as a stage for dharma-restoring grace.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse is descriptive, continuing the account of the Lord’s manifestation and the daityas’ reaction.