Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

निमेषात्सोभिसंस्तम्भ्य दानवो दारुणाकृतिः । जग्राह पट्टिशं दैत्यो गिरीणामपि भेदनम्

Transliteration

nimeṣātsobhisaṃstambhya dānavo dāruṇākṛtiḥ | jagrāha paṭṭiśaṃ daityo girīṇāmapi bhedanam

Translation

Chỉ trong chớp mắt, tên Dānava dáng vẻ ghê rợn trấn tĩnh lại, rồi chộp lấy paṭṭiśa (rìu chiến), thứ vũ khí có thể bổ cả núi non.

Word by Word

• nimeṣāt: from (within) a blink
• nimeṣāt: Apadana (Source/अपाादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nimeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine, Ablative singular: 'from/within a blink')

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular pronoun)

• abhi-saṃstambhya: having braced/steadied (himself)
• abhi-saṃstambhya: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/Adverbial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi (उपसर्ग) + saṃ + stambh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); धातु: स्तम्भ् (to stiffen/stop); उपसर्गयुक्त (having suddenly stiffened/checked)

• dānavaḥ: the demon (Dānava)
• dānavaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular)

• dāruṇa-ākṛtiḥ: of dreadful appearance
• dāruṇa-ākṛtiḥ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत् (Feminine, Nominative singular; 'having a terrible form')

• jagrāha: seized, took up
• jagrāha: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (he seized)

• paṭṭiśam: a battle-axe
• paṭṭiśam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṭṭiśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative singular)

• daityaḥ: the Daitya (demon)
• daityaḥ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative singular; in apposition to dānavaḥ)

• girīṇām: of mountains
• girīṇām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive plural)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: 'even/also')

• bhedanam: a splitter, means of breaking
• bhedanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhedana (प्रातिपदिक; from bhid धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative singular; 'instrument/means' as object)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A terrifying Dānava, regaining composure in an instant, gripping a heavy paṭṭiśa; the weapon gleams with the implied power to cleave rock; dust and wind swirl around him.

Characters & Entities

• Dānava
• Daitya
• Paṭṭiśa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Unchecked ferocity quickly regathers strength; the verse highlights how tamasic resolve can re-arm itself in an instant.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None is mentioned here.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.