Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

अजातदंता ये केचिद्ये च गर्भे प्रपीडिताः । अग्निविद्युच्चोरहता व्याघ्रदंष्ट्रिभिरेव च

Transliteration

ajātadaṃtā ye kecidye ca garbhe prapīḍitāḥ | agnividyuccorahatā vyāghradaṃṣṭribhireva ca

Translation

Diejenigen, die starben, ehe Zähne erschienen; die im Mutterleib bedrängt zugrunde gingen; die durch Feuer, Blitz oder Diebe erschlagen wurden; und die von Tigerfängen zerrissen wurden—(aller soll man gedenken).

Word by Word

• अजातदन्ताः: toothless (not yet having teeth)
• अजातदन्ताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + जात + दन्त (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः (अजाताः दन्ताः येषां ते = those whose teeth have not arisen)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-सूचक

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचनार्थे; अनिश्चित-परिमाण (some)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• गर्भे: in the womb
• गर्भे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• प्रपीडिताः: afflicted/pressed
• प्रपीडिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + पीड् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• अग्निविद्युत्चोरहताः: killed by fire, lightning, or thieves
• अग्निविद्युत्चोरहताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि + विद्युत् + चोर + हत (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (अग्निना विद्युत्या चोरेण च हताः = killed by fire, lightning, or thieves)

• व्याघ्रदंष्ट्रिभिः: by tigers (lit. by tiger-fanged ones)
• व्याघ्रदंष्ट्रिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याघ्र + दंष्ट्रिन् (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्याघ्रस्य दंष्ट्रिणः = those with tiger-fangs; i.e., tigers)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

Speaker

Skanda

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kāśī-Gaṅgā (pitṛ-śānti context)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ritual inquirer/pilgrim audience

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A compassionate rite at the ghāṭa where tiny child-forms and faint womb-silhouettes, along with victims of fire/lightning/robbery and wild beasts, are symbolically released into light by Gaṅgā’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā (contextual)
• Pitṛs (contextual)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ancestral dharma is compassionate: offerings are meant even for those who died prematurely or violently, not only for elders.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The surrounding narrative is the Gaṅgā in Kāśī, where such inclusive tarpaṇa is especially efficacious.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Include in tarpaṇa those who died in infancy, in the womb, or through calamities like fire, lightning, robbery, or animal attack.