Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

ततो देवाः कालिकायाः शंकमानाः पुनर्भयम् । ऊचुर्मा बाल बालत्वं परित्यज कृपां कुरु

Transliteration

tato devāḥ kālikāyāḥ śaṃkamānāḥ punarbhayam | ūcurmā bāla bālatvaṃ parityaja kṛpāṃ kuru

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ദേവന്മാർ കാലികയെക്കുറിച്ച് വീണ്ടും ഭയവും സംശയവും കൊണ്ടു പറഞ്ഞു—“ഹേ ബാലാ, ബാല്യാവസ്ഥ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കരുത്; കൃപ കാണിക്കൂ.”

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तस्मात्-अर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: then/thereupon)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Plural)

• कालिकायाः: of Kālikā
• कालिकायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• शङ्कमानाः: fearing/suspecting
• शङ्कमानाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शङ्क् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present participle/शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha/Particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb: again)

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (क्वचित् प्रथमा-समाना रूपम्)

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• मा: do not
• मा: Sambandha/Particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle)

• बाल: O boy
• बाल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• बालत्वम्: childhood/childishness
• बालत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परित्यज: abandon
• परित्यज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• कृपाम्: mercy
• कृपाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुरु: do/show
• कुरु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Devas (gods)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Devas (collectively)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A circle of devas with folded hands address the radiant child, their faces still tense; behind them, Kālikā now calm; the devas gesture pleadingly, asking the child to remain.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Kālikā
• Rudra (as child)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even the gods seek refuge in divine compassion when confronted by overwhelming fear.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is explicitly praised in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A prayerful appeal for kṛpā (mercy) is expressed, but no formal rite is prescribed.