Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

अवतीर्णा परा मूर्तिर्गतास्मिन्भुवनत्रये । यदा शुंभनिक्षंभौ च दानवौ बलदर्पितौ

Transliteration

avatīrṇā parā mūrtirgatāsminbhuvanatraye | yadā śuṃbhanikṣaṃbhau ca dānavau baladarpitau

Translation

जेव्हा बलदर्पाने उन्मत्त दानवबंधू शुंभ-निशुंभ त्रैलोक्यात उदयास आले, तेव्हा परा मूर्ती अवतरून तीनही लोकांत संचार करू लागली.

Word by Word

• avatīrṇā: descended
• avatīrṇā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava√tṝ (धातु) → avatīrṇa (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• parā: supreme
• parā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• mūrtiḥ: form, embodiment
• mūrtiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• gatā: gone/entered
• gatā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (धातु) → gata (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• bhuvanatraye: in the three worlds
• bhuvanatraye: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvana (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (trīṇi bhuvanāni)

• yadā: when
• yadā: Kāla (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• śuṃbha: Śuṃbha
• śuṃbha: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम

• nikṣaṃbhau: Nikṣaṃbha (as one of the pair)
• nikṣaṃbhau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nikṣaṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dānavau: the two demons
• dānavau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• baladarpitau: intoxicated with strength
• baladarpitau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक) + darpita (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (balena darpitau)

Speaker

Sūta

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The Supreme Goddess-form traverses the three worlds as Śumbha and Niśumbha rise in proud power; cosmic movement, ominous asura courts, and divine resolve.

Characters & Entities

• Parā Mūrti (Devī)
• Śumbha
• Niśumbha
• Three worlds (Trailokya)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When arrogance and oppression swell, the Supreme Power manifests to re-establish balance across the worlds.

Which specific holy site (Tīrtha) is glorified here?

Not named in this verse; it sets the mythic backdrop that often sanctifies later-mentioned shrines and tīrthas.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is narrative context for Devī’s protective descent.