Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

पुरा गौर्या समासक्तं ज्ञात्वा देवाः सवासवाः । मंत्रं चक्रुर्भयाविष्टा एकांते समुपाश्रिताः

Transliteration

purā gauryā samāsaktaṃ jñātvā devāḥ savāsavāḥ | maṃtraṃ cakrurbhayāviṣṭā ekāṃte samupāśritāḥ

Translation

മുമ്പ്, (ശിവൻ) ഗൗരിയിൽ അത്യന്തം ആസക്തനാണെന്ന് അറിഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ, ഇന്ദ്രനോടുകൂടിയ ദേവഗണങ്ങൾ ഭയാവിഷ്ടരായി ഏകാന്തത്തിൽ അഭയം പ്രാപിച്ച് ആലോചന നടത്തി.

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly, once
• पुरा: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण) — indeclinable adverb of time

• गौर्या: by/with Gaurī
• गौर्या: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन — Feminine, Instrumental singular

• समासक्तम्: attached, clinging
• समासक्तम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन — Past passive participle, Neuter accusative singular

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (पूर्वकाल) — gerund/absolutive “having known”

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative plural

• सवासवाः: together with Vāsava (Indra)
• सवासवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + वासव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative plural; सह-सम्बन्धे तत्पुरुषः (“with Indra”)

• मन्त्रम्: a plan/counsel (mantra)
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative singular

• चक्रुः: they made, devised
• चक्रुः: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person plural, Parasmaipada

• भयाविष्टाः: overcome by fear
• भयाविष्टाः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + आविष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Past participle used adjectivally; Masculine nominative plural; तत्पुरुषः (“overcome by fear”)

• एकान्ते: in a secluded place
• एकान्ते: Adhikarana (Location/Place)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative singular

• समुपाश्रिताः: having resorted to, having taken refuge
• समुपाश्रिताः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उप-आ-श्रि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Past participle; Masculine nominative plural

Speaker

Pulastya (narrator)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: In a hidden grove or celestial chamber, Indra and devas huddle in anxious consultation, glancing toward the direction of Śiva and Gaurī; the atmosphere is hushed, conspiratorial, and tense.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Vāsava (Indra)
• Gaurī (Pārvatī)
• Śiva (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Purāṇas depict even gods acting to preserve balance; fear here signals concern for loka-kalyāṇa (the welfare of the worlds).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of the backstory that culminates in the sanctification and praise of Īśānī-śikhara/Gaurī’s kṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it sets narrative context for the tīrtha’s māhātmya.