Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 6

Devanagari script

तारको हि तदा तेन मुचुकुंदेन धीमता । खड्गेन चाहतास्तत्र सर्वप्राणेन वक्षसि । प्रसह्य तत्प्रहारं च प्रहसन्वाक्यमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

tārako hi tadā tena mucukuṃdena dhīmatā | khaḍgena cāhatāstatra sarvaprāṇena vakṣasi | prasahya tatprahāraṃ ca prahasanvākyamabravīt

Translation

ครั้งนั้นทารกะถูกดาบของมุจุกุนทะผู้ทรงปัญญาฟันเข้าที่อกด้วยแรงเต็มกำลัง แต่เขาก็ทนรับคมฟันนั้นไว้ แล้วหัวเราะพลางกล่าวถ้อยคำนี้

Word by Word

• तारकः: Tāraka (the demon)
• तारकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikaraṇa (time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• मुचुकुंदेन: by Mucukunda
• मुचुकुंदेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुचुकुंद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• धीमता: by the wise (one)
• धीमता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) मुचुकुंदेन

• खड्गेन: with a sword
• खड्गेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आहतः: struck, hit
• आहतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-हन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोगे विशेषणम् (qualifies तारकः)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• सर्वप्राणेन: with full force (with all his life-breath)
• सर्वप्राणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वे प्राणाः यस्य/सर्वप्राणः इति); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बलवाचक-करण

• वक्षसि: on the chest
• वक्षसि: Adhikaraṇa (locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• प्रसह्य: forcibly, having forced
• प्रसह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-√सह् (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); क्रियाविशेषण (manner)

• तत्-प्रहारम्: that blow/strike
• तत्-प्रहारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + प्रहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्य प्रहारः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रहसन्: laughing
• प्रहसन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√हस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि, विशेषणम् (qualifies तारकः)

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

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lomaśa (narrating); Tāraka speaks next

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra (Kedārakṣetra)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: On a Himalayan battlefield near Kedāra, Mucukunda’s sword lands on Tāraka’s chest with full force; Tāraka endures, then laughs, unshaken, beginning a taunt.

Characters & Entities

• Tāraka
• Mucukunda

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It depicts the intensity of conflict and the testing of resolve, setting the stage for moral confrontation through dialogue.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Kedāra region is the textual setting; this verse is narrative and not a direct tīrtha praise.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.