Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 58

Devanagari script

अथ भीतः सहस्राक्षो गत्वा देवं पितामहम् । यमेन सहितस्तूर्णं प्रोवाचेदं वचस्तदा

Transliteration

atha bhītaḥ sahasrākṣo gatvā devaṃ pitāmaham | yamena sahitastūrṇaṃ provācedaṃ vacastadā

Translation

তখন ভীত সহস্রাক্ষ (ইন্দ্র) দ্রুত দেব পিতামহ (ব্রহ্মা)-এর কাছে গেলেন; এবং যমের সঙ্গে মিলিত হয়ে তখন এই বাক্য বললেন।

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अनन्तर/प्रारम्भसूचक)

• भीतः: frightened
• भीतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भी (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सहस्राक्षः)

• सहस्राक्षः: the thousand-eyed (Indra)
• सहस्राक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः बहुव्रीहिः (सहस्रम् अक्षाणि यस्य = ‘thousand-eyed’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriya (Prior action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय, Absolutive), अव्यय; पूर्वक्रिया

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पितामहम्: the Grandfather (Brahmā)
• पितामहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; देवम् इति विशेषण/अपपद-सम्बन्धः (ब्रह्माणम्)

• यमेन: with Yama
• यमेन: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• सहितः: accompanied
• सहितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित (प्रातिपदिक; √सह्/सह)
• Form: कृदन्त/विशेषण (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘accompanied’

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• तूर्णम्: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्णम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण), ‘quickly’

• प्रोवाच: said, spoke
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (Speech act/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वचः: speech, words
• वचः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वचः = acc.sg.); कर्म

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक), ‘then/at that time’

Speaker

Narrator (contextually Sūta)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra, anxious, accompanied by Yama, hastens to Brahmā’s celestial court; Brahmā sits on a lotus-throne, ready to hear urgent words; the scene conveys administrative gravity.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)
• Brahmā (Pitāmaha)
• Yama

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The merit of a true tīrtha can be so potent that even the gods take notice, emphasizing the extraordinary sanctity of sacred places.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The same Sārasvata-associated tīrtha of this chapter, whose power prompts Indra’s concern.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None here; it introduces a divine consultation about the results of tīrtha practice.