Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 48

Devanagari script

अथ दृष्टिनिपातेन सा देवी दानवाधिपम् । व्यलोकयत्ततस्तस्या निश्चयः संबभूव ह

Transliteration

atha dṛṣṭinipātena sā devī dānavādhipam | vyalokayattatastasyā niścayaḥ saṃbabhūva ha

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ദേവി ഒരു ദൃഷ്ടിനിപാതം മാത്രത്താൽ ദാനവാധിപനെ നിരീക്ഷിച്ചു; അതേ നിമിഷം തന്നെ അവളുടെ ഹൃദയത്തിൽ ദൃഢനിശ്ചയം ഉദിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Kriya-sambandha (Sequencer)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अनन्तरार्थक)

• दृष्टिनिपातेन: by a glance
• दृष्टिनिपातेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛṣṭi + nipāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-भाव): ‘दृष्टेः निपातः’ = casting of the gaze; पुल्लिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दानवाधिपम्: the demon-lord
• दानवाधिपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी): ‘दानवानाम् अधिपः’ = lord of demons; पुल्लिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• व्यलोकयत्: she looked at
• व्यलोकयत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + lok (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-sambandha (Sequencer)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तदनन्तरम्)

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• निश्चयः: a decision/resolve
• निश्चयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niścaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• संबभूव: arose/came to be
• संबभूव: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + bhū (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed/forsooth
• ह: Particle (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात; कथन-प्रत्यय/एवकारार्थ)

Speaker

Pulastya (narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Arbuda (Arbudācala)

Type: peak

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: King (vṛpa-sattama addressed in the surrounding verses)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The Goddess fixes her gaze upon the dānava-lord; the moment is still, charged, and fateful—her eyes become the axis of impending transformation.

Characters & Entities

• Devī (Śrīmātā)
• Dānavādhipa (Bāṣkali)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Divine Mother’s mere glance signifies sovereign power; when dharma is threatened, divine resolve manifests decisively.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Arbuda mountain and its Devī-presence are central, presenting the place as a stage for divine protection.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse highlights the Goddess’s perception and determination rather than a rite.