Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 66

Devanagari script

त्रैलोक्यरक्षणार्थाय संनिरूप्य दनूत्त मान् । महाबलसमोपेताञ्छक्राधिकपराक्रमान्

Transliteration

trailokyarakṣaṇārthāya saṃnirūpya danūtta mān | mahābalasamopetāñchakrādhikaparākramān

Translation

三界を守護するために（神々は）ダヌの子らのうち最も優れた者を見定めた。大いなる力を備え、勇猛はシャクラ（インドラ）すら凌ぐ者であった。

Word by Word

• त्रैलोक्यरक्षणार्थाय: for the purpose of protecting the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यरक्षणार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य + रक्षण + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—त्रैलोक्यस्य रक्षणार्थः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• संनिरूप्य: having appointed/selected
• संनिरूप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-नि-रूप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भावकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• दनूत्तमान्: the best among the Dānavas
• दनूत्तमान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दनु + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—दनूनाम् उत्तमाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• महाबलसमोपेतान्: endowed with great strength
• महाबलसमोपेतान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बल + समुपेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—महाबलेन समुपेताः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• शक्राधिकपराक्रमान्: having prowess greater than Indra
• शक्राधिकपराक्रमान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्र + अधिक + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—शक्रात् अधिकः पराक्रमः येषाम् (पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्रायः)

Speaker

Sūta

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A council of gods deliberates for the protection of the three worlds, measuring the might of a foremost Dānava—depicted as towering, radiant with fierce energy—whose valor is said to exceed even Indra’s.

Characters & Entities

• Trailokya (three worlds)
• Śakra (Indra)
• Danu/Daityas (Dānava class)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Tapas can generate immense power; dharma requires that such power be aligned with the protection of cosmic order, not domination.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader passage remains rooted in Naimiṣāraṇya’s context, though this verse focuses on cosmic stakes rather than site description.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it sets narrative context about the consequences of extraordinary strength and valor.