Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 58

Devanagari script

गजान्कृत्वा ह्येकतश्च हयांश्च विविधांस्तथा । स्यंदनानिविचित्राणि नानारत्नयुतानि च

Transliteration

gajānkṛtvā hyekataśca hayāṃśca vividhāṃstathā | syaṃdanānivicitrāṇi nānāratnayutāni ca

Translation

Sie stellten die Elefanten auf die eine Seite und ebenso die verschiedenartigen Pferde; auch ordneten sie wunderbare Wagen an, geschmückt mit mancherlei Edelsteinen.

Word by Word

• गजान्: elephants
• गजान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कृत्वा: having arranged/made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Avyaya (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• एकतः: on one side
• एकतः: Kriya-visheshana (Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकतः (अव्यय)
• Form: दिशावाचक अव्यय (adverb: on one side)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक निपात (conjunction)

• हयान्: horses
• हयान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक निपात (conjunction)

• विविधान्: various, diverse
• विविधान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agreeing with हयान् (or implied groups)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: likewise/so)

• स्यन्दनानि: chariots
• स्यन्दनानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्यन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; here as further objects with implied कृत्वा

• विचित्राणि: variegated, splendid
• विचित्राणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; agreeing with स्यन्दनानि

• नानारत्नयुतानि: adorned with many gems
• नानारत्नयुतानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (नानाविधैः रत्नैः युतानि) = endowed with many kinds of gems; agreeing with स्यन्दनानि

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) addressing the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Elephants massed to one flank, cavalry to another, and jewel-studded chariots in the center; sunlight glints off gems, banners ripple above.

Characters & Entities

• Elephants
• Horses
• Chariots (Syandana)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The Purāṇa depicts the full mobilization of worldly resources, yet implies that true victory depends on dharma, not mere equipment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse continues the Antarvedī setting, though it focuses on the arrangement of battle units.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.