Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 3
स शंकरवराद्दैत्यो देवदानवरक्षसाम् । अवध्यो योषितं मुक्त्वा सर्वेषां प्राणिनां भुवि
sa śaṃkaravarāddaityo devadānavarakṣasām | avadhyo yoṣitaṃ muktvā sarveṣāṃ prāṇināṃ bhuvi
ശങ്കരന്റെ (ശിവന്റെ) വരപ്രഭാവത്താൽ ആ ദൈത്യൻ ദേവന്മാർക്കും ദാനവർക്കും രാക്ഷസർക്കും—ഭൂമിയിലെ സർവ്വ ജീവികൾക്കും—സ്ത്രീയെ ഒഴികെ അവധ്യനായിരുന്നു.
Pulastya
Tirtha: Arbuda
Type: peak
Listener: Ṛṣis/Śaunaka group (typical)
Scene: A formidable asura stands empowered by Śaṅkara’s boon; celestial beings recoil, realizing none can defeat him except a woman—an ominous yet hopeful turning point.
FAQs
Boons and power remain subordinate to divine order; the Devī embodies the dharmic resolution beyond worldly invincibility.
The verse supports the māhātmya of Kātyāyanī’s cave shrine, where her identity as Śumbha’s slayer is celebrated.
None; it establishes the theological premise for Devī’s victory and the sanctity of her abode.