Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

अवतीर्णा परा मूर्तिर्गतास्मिन्भुवनत्रये । यदा शुंभनिक्षंभौ च दानवौ बलदर्पितौ

Transliteration

avatīrṇā parā mūrtirgatāsminbhuvanatraye | yadā śuṃbhanikṣaṃbhau ca dānavau baladarpitau

Translation

اعلیٰ ترین صورت نازل ہوئی اور تینوں جہانوں میں گردش کرنے لگی، جب دانو بھائی شُمبھ اور نِشُمبھ قوت کے غرور میں مست ہو کر ابھرے۔

Word by Word

• avatīrṇā: descended
• avatīrṇā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava√tṝ (धातु) → avatīrṇa (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• parā: supreme
• parā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• mūrtiḥ: form, embodiment
• mūrtiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• gatā: gone/entered
• gatā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (धातु) → gata (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• bhuvanatraye: in the three worlds
• bhuvanatraye: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvana (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (trīṇi bhuvanāni)

• yadā: when
• yadā: Kāla (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• śuṃbha: Śuṃbha
• śuṃbha: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम

• nikṣaṃbhau: Nikṣaṃbha (as one of the pair)
• nikṣaṃbhau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nikṣaṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dānavau: the two demons
• dānavau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• baladarpitau: intoxicated with strength
• baladarpitau: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक) + darpita (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (balena darpitau)

Speaker

Sūta

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The Supreme Goddess-form traverses the three worlds as Śumbha and Niśumbha rise in proud power; cosmic movement, ominous asura courts, and divine resolve.

Characters & Entities

• Parā Mūrti (Devī)
• Śumbha
• Niśumbha
• Three worlds (Trailokya)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When arrogance and oppression swell, the Supreme Power manifests to re-establish balance across the worlds.

Which specific holy site (Tīrtha) is glorified here?

Not named in this verse; it sets the mythic backdrop that often sanctifies later-mentioned shrines and tīrthas.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is narrative context for Devī’s protective descent.