Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

उवाच नारदो वाक्यं तारकं देवकण्टकम्

Transliteration

uvāca nārado vākyaṃ tārakaṃ devakaṇṭakam

Translation

Нарада обратился со словами к Тараке — занозе в боку у богов.

Word by Word

• उवाच: said/spoke
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: a statement/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचन

• तारकम्: Tāraka
• तारकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचन

• देवकण्टकम्: thorn of the gods (bane of the gods)
• देवकण्टकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (देवानां कण्टकः)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta), narrator (introducing Nārada’s speech)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra/Kedārakṣetra (contextual frame)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Nārada approaches and addresses Tāraka, famed as the gods’ tormentor—an encounter charged with prophecy and impending reversal.

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Tāraka
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The arrival of a divine messenger signals that even seemingly unstoppable adharma will be confronted through higher wisdom and destiny.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named in this verse; it introduces a dialogue episode within the Kedārakhaṇḍa narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.