Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 48

Devanagari script

ततः समभवद्युद्धं देवानां सह दानवैः । मिथः प्रभर्त्स्यमानानां मृत्युं कृत्वा निवर्तनम्

Transliteration

tataḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ devānāṃ saha dānavaiḥ | mithaḥ prabhartsyamānānāṃ mṛtyuṃ kṛtvā nivartanam

Translation

பின்னர் தேவர்களுக்கும் தானவர்களுக்கும் போர் எழுந்தது; அவர்கள் ஒருவரையொருவர் தாக்கி, மரணமே முடிவெனக் கொண்ட பின்பே பின்வாங்கினர்।

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Desha-Kala (Adverbial/देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रम/कालवाचक) — adverb “then”

• सम्-अभवत्: arose/occurred
• सम्-अभवत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत) प्रथमपुरुष एकवचनम् — Imperfect, 3rd person, Singular

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् — Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी बहुवचनम् — Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural

• सह: with
• सह: Sahakaraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (सहकारक) — indeclinable “with” (governs instrumental)

• दानवैः: with the Dānavas
• दानवैः: Sahakaraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् — Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• मिथः: mutually
• मिथः: Sambandha (Reciprocal/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (परस्परार्थक) — adverb “mutually/with each other”

• प्रभर्त्स्यमानानाम्: of those being assailed
• प्रभर्त्स्यमानानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + भर्त्स् (धातु)
• Form: शानच् (वर्तमानकृदन्त, कर्मणि/आत्मनेपदभाव) — present passive participle “being threatened/abused”; पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी बहुवचनम् — Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural

• मृत्युम्: death
• मृत्युम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् — Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• कृत्वा: having caused
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त) — gerund “having made/caused”

• निवर्तनम्: withdrawal/turning back
• निवर्तनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचनम् — Neuter, Accusative/Nominative, Singular; here as कर्म (object) with कृत्वा

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrative voice; exact speaker not in snippet)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dense clash of Devas and Dānavas in the sky: chariots collide, astras streak like comets, fallen bodies drift amid clouds; the only ‘retreat’ is death.

Characters & Entities

• Deva
• Dānava

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It portrays the grave cost of conflict; Purāṇic dharma ultimately points beyond violence toward restoration of order and devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not specified in this verse; it continues the war narrative within the māhātmya context.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.