Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 174

Devanagari script

विव्याध पुनरेकैकं दशभिर्मर्मभेदिभिः । तथा च मातलिं दैत्यो विव्याध त्रिभिराशुगैः

Transliteration

vivyādha punarekaikaṃ daśabhirmarmabhedibhiḥ | tathā ca mātaliṃ daityo vivyādha tribhirāśugaiḥ

Translation

ପୁଣି ସେ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକଙ୍କୁ ମର୍ମଭେଦୀ ଦଶ ଦଶ ଶରରେ ବିଦ୍ଧ କଲା; ଏବଂ ଦୈତ୍ୟ ମାତଲିଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ତିନିଟି ତୀବ୍ର ଶରରେ ଆଘାତ କଲା।

Word by Word

• विव्याध: pierced/wounded
• विव्याध: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (adverb)

• एकैकम्: each one (separately)
• एकैकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म-विशेषण), एकवचन; समासः (द्वन्द्व) = 'एकं च एकं च' → 'each one'

• दशभिः: with ten (arrows)
• दशभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सर्वलिङ्ग-प्रयोग), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• मर्मभेदिभिः: with vital-part-piercing (arrows)
• मर्मभेदिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मर्म + भेदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मर्मणां भेदी)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-अव्यय (adverb: 'likewise')

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मातलिम्: Mātali (Indra’s charioteer)
• मातलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• दैत्यः: the Daitya (demon)
• दैत्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• विव्याध: pierced/wounded
• विव्याध: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रिभिः: with three (arrows)
• त्रिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सर्वलिङ्ग-प्रयोग), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• आशुगैः: with swift (arrows)
• आशुगैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (शराणां)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced: Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narration to sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close-up intensity: the daitya’s ten ‘vital-point’ arrows strike each deity at joints and armor seams; Mātali, holding reins, is hit by three swift shafts, his posture jolting as the chariot lurches.

Characters & Entities

• Mātali
• Daitya (Tāraka implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma’s servants may be afflicted, yet their role in sustaining divine order remains; endurance in service is praised.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.