Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 51

Devanagari script

इयमेव महादुर्गा शूद्रकं वीरसत्तमम् । चौरैर्बद्धं कलौ चाग्रे मोक्षयिष्यति विक्रमात्

Transliteration

iyameva mahādurgā śūdrakaṃ vīrasattamam | caurairbaddhaṃ kalau cāgre mokṣayiṣyati vikramāt

Translation

ଏହି ମହାଦୁର୍ଗା ନିଜ ମହାବିକ୍ରମରେ, କଳିଯୁଗର ଆଗାମୀ କାଳରେ, ଚୋରମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ବନ୍ଧିତ ବୀରଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଶୂଦ୍ରକଙ୍କୁ ମୁକ୍ତ କରିବେ।

Word by Word

• इयम्: this (goddess)
• इयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• महादुर्गा: Mahādurga
• महादुर्गा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शूद्रकम्: Śūdraka
• शूद्रकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper name)

• वीरसत्तमम्: the best of heroes
• वीरसत्तमम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—'वीराणां सत्तमः' (best among heroes)

• चौरैः: by thieves
• चौरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• बद्धम्: bound
• बद्धम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) → बद्ध (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'बन्धितम्' (bound)

• कलौ: in the Kali age
• कलौ: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; 'कलियुगे'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Conjunction
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• अग्रे: later/in the future
• अग्रे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial use) 'अग्रे' = भविष्ये/पुरतः (here: in the future)

• मोक्षयिष्यति: will free/deliver
• मोक्षयिष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) → मोक्षय (णिच् causative stem)
• Form: लृट् (Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative)

• विक्रमात्: through (her) valor
• विक्रमात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/हेतु/अपादान), एकवचन; कारणार्थे (because of valor)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Carcitā Mahādurgā-sthāna

Type: temple

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A future-age tableau: a heroic figure named Śūdraka bound by thieves; the fierce Mahādurgā appears, breaking bonds with radiant force; thieves recoil; the scene is set near the temple/tīrtha, emphasizing sanctuary.

Characters & Entities

• Mahādurgā
• Śūdraka
• Kali Yuga
• Thieves (caura)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Goddess is portrayed as an active protector who rescues devotees through her vikrama (divine valor), even in Kali Yuga.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse highlights Mahādurgā’s saving power; the specific pīṭha/location is implied within the chapter’s directional listing rather than named explicitly here.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is prescribed in this verse; it supports faith in Mahādurgā’s protection and grace.