Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

ततः प्रधानास्ते सर्वे दानवा अपिदारुणाः । पलायनपरा जाता निरुत्साहा द्विषज्जये

Transliteration

tataḥ pradhānāste sarve dānavā apidāruṇāḥ | palāyanaparā jātā nirutsāhā dviṣajjaye

Translation

তখন সেই সকল প্রধান দানব, যদিও ভয়ংকর, শত্রুর বিজয় দেখে নিরুৎসাহ হয়ে কেবল পলায়নেই মন দিল।

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — अपादान/क्रमसूचक; “thereupon/then”

• प्रधानाः: chief, leading
• प्रधानाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• दानवाः: Dānavas (demons)
• दानवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) — समुच्चय/अपि-भाव

• दारुणाः: terrible, fierce
• दारुणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• पलायनपरा: intent on fleeing
• पलायनपरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: palāyana + para (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (पलायनपराः इति); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुष: “पलायने पराः”

• जाताः: became
• जाताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु) + ta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; “become/having become”

• निरुत्साहाः: discouraged, without zeal
• निरुत्साहाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir + utsāha (प्रातिपदिक; उपसर्गपूर्वक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• द्विषज्जये: in (the matter of) victory over enemies
• द्विषज्जये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dviṣat + jaya (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: “द्विषतां जयः” (victory over enemies)

Speaker

Narrator (implied Purāṇic narrator within the Tīrthamāhātmya frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A battlefield where the chief Dānavas, once terrifying, turn their chariots away in panic; banners droop, faces show fear, and the divine side advances with renewed momentum.

Characters & Entities

• Dānavas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When dharma is upheld, adharma collapses inwardly—fear and loss of resolve arise naturally in those opposed to righteous order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of a larger Tīrthamāhātmya discourse; no specific tīrtha name appears in this shloka.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.