Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

ततः प्रणम्य तं शक्रो देव मध्ये वचोऽब्रवीत् । पश्यपश्य महासेन दैत्यानां बलशालिनाम्

Transliteration

tataḥ praṇamya taṃ śakro deva madhye vaco'bravīt | paśyapaśya mahāsena daityānāṃ balaśālinām

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ശക്രൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) അവനെ നമസ്കരിച്ചു ദേവന്മാരുടെ മദ്ധ്യേ പറഞ്ഞു— “കാണുക, കാണുക, ഹേ മഹാസേന! ദൈത്യരുടെ മഹാബലം കാണുക।”

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb): तस्मात्/ततः = 'thereupon/then'

• praṇamya: having bowed
• praṇamya: Kriya (Gerundial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (absolutive/ल्यपन्त): 'having bowed' (पूर्वकाले क्रिया)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• śakraḥ: Śakra (Indra)
• śakraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• deva: O god
• deva: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• madhye: in the midst
• madhye: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; 'in the midst'

• vacaḥ: words, speech
• vacaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• abravīt: said, spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• paśya: see!
• paśya: Kriya (Command/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• paśya: look!
• paśya: Kriya (Command/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; पुनरुक्ति (emphasis)

• mahāsena: O Mahāsena (Skanda)
• mahāsena: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + sena (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: 'महती सेना यस्य' (as name)

• daityānām: of the Daityas (demons)
• daityānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• balaśālinām: of the strong (powerful)
• balaśālinām: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक) + śālin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: 'बलं शालिनः' = 'possessing strength'

Speaker

Śakra (Indra)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra, hands folded in reverence, addresses Skanda (Mahāsena) amid a radiant assembly of gods, pointing toward a distant, ominous host of powerful Daityas.

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Skanda (Mahāsena)
• Devas
• Daityas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma’s protection requires clear-eyed assessment of adharma’s power; courage is guided by discernment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is mentioned; the focus is on the divine council and impending conflict.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; this is exhortation and strategic address.