Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 162

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ते गुहेनाथ निवृत्तस्यास्य भारत । तारकस्य शिरोदेशात्कापि नारी विनिर्ययौ

Transliteration

evamukte guhenātha nivṛttasyāsya bhārata | tārakasya śirodeśātkāpi nārī viniryayau

Translation

婆罗多啊，当古诃如此说罢，而塔罗迦退却之时，从塔罗迦头部之处竟现出一位女子。

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• उक्ते: when (this) was said
• उक्ते: Adhikarana (Absolute locative/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); लोके absolute (सप्तमी-absolute)

• गुहेन: by Guha
• गुहेन: Karana (Agent-instrument in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरबोधक-अव्यय (particle: then/now)

• निवृत्तस्य: of (him) who had turned back/ceased
• निवृत्तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-वृत् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → निवृत्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); अस्य इति विशेषणम्

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• भारत: O Bhārata
• भारत: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तारकस्य: of Tāraka
• तारकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• शिरोदेशात्: from the head-region
• शिरोदेशात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular); (शिरसः देशः)

• कापि: some (woman)
• कापि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: का (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite: some)

• नारी: woman
• नारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विनिर्ययौ: came forth; emerged
• विनिर्ययौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-निर्-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Unspecified narrator addressing “Bhārata” (contextually Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa narrating to sages)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Bhārata addressee

Visual Art Cues

Scene: After Skanda’s words, Tāraka recoils; from the crown/forehead region of the asura’s head a luminous female form begins to emerge, as if a condensed power is being released from within.

Characters & Entities

• Guha (Skanda)
• Tāraka
• Bhārata
• Nārī (unnamed woman)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇic narratives often reveal hidden karmic or cosmic outcomes at decisive moments, showing that adharma’s downfall can unveil unexpected truths.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is mentioned; the verse marks a miraculous event within the battle account.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.