Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 13

Devanagari script

तद्भग्नं दानवबलं दृष्ट्वा स युयुधे रणे । बभंज सद्यो देवेशो बाणजालैरनेकधा

Transliteration

tadbhagnaṃ dānavabalaṃ dṛṣṭvā sa yuyudhe raṇe | babhaṃja sadyo deveśo bāṇajālairanekadhā

Translation

ഇതിനകം തകർന്ന ദാനവസൈന്യത്തെ കണ്ടു അവൻ യുദ്ധഭൂമിയിൽ പോരാടി. ഉടൻ ദേവേശ്വരൻ അമ്പുകളുടെ ജാലങ്ങളാൽ അവരെ പലവിധമായി തകർത്തു.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; दानवबलं इति विशेषणम्

• भग्नम्: defeated
• भग्नम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √भञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'broken/defeated'

• दानवबलम्: the demon force
• दानवबलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दानवानां बलम्)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययीभाव-रूप (gerund/absolutive): 'having seen'

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

• युयुधे: fought
• युयुधे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana (Location/देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• बभंज: shattered
• बभंज: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यस् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'immediately')

• देवेशः: the lord of the gods
• देवेशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् ईशः)

• बाणजालैः: with nets/volleys of arrows
• बाणजालैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बाणानां जालैः)

• अनेकधा: in many ways
• अनेकधा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'in many ways')

Speaker

Deductive (Nāgara-khaṇḍa narrative voice; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa addressing sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A battlefield where the deva-lord releases dense nets of arrows, splintering the already-broken demon ranks; dust, banners, and shattered weapons fill the air.

Characters & Entities

• Deveśa (ambiguous epithet: could denote Indra or a supreme divine leader in context)
• Dānava

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When divine sovereignty (deveśatva) supports dharma, adharma collapses swiftly—symbolizing the decisive power of righteous authority.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No single tīrtha is named in this verse; it continues the Tāmravatī-centered conflict sequence within the Tīrthamāhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.