Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

द्रौपद्या सहितं दृष्ट्वा रहसि भ्रातरं द्विजम् । प्रोवाच प्रणतो भूत्वा विनयावनतोऽर्जुनः

Transliteration

draupadyā sahitaṃ dṛṣṭvā rahasi bhrātaraṃ dvijam | provāca praṇato bhūtvā vinayāvanato'rjunaḥ

Translation

Als Arjuna seinen Bruder im Verborgenen zusammen mit Draupadī erblickte, verneigte er sich ehrfürchtig, in Demut und Anstand, und sprach zu ihm.

Word by Word

• द्रौपद्या: with Draupadī
• द्रौपद्या: Sahakaraka (Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: draupadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सहार्थे (instrumental of accompaniment: “with Draupadī”)

• सहितम्: accompanied (together)
• सहितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahita (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from सह्/सहाय् sense)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषणम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भ्रातरम् इति पदस्य विशेषणम् (agreeing with object)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्तः (क्त्वान्त/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seen)

• रहसि: in private
• रहसि: Adhikarana (Manner/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: rahas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः; सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम् (adverbial locative: “in secret/privately”)

• भ्रातरम्: brother
• भ्रातरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• द्विजम्: the brāhmaṇa
• द्विजम्: Karma (Apposition to object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भ्रातरम् इति पदस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन (identifying as “brāhmaṇa”)

• प्रोवाच: said
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• प्रणतः: bowed
• प्रणतः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra√nam (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्जुनस्य विशेषणम् (bowed down)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वान्त); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having become)

• विनय-अवनतः: humbly bent (with humility)
• विनय-अवनतः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinaya (प्रातिपदिक) + avanata (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-भाव)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः (विनयेन अवनतः = विनयावनतः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्जुनस्य विशेषणम्

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; not explicit in the verse)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: dvija (addressed in surrounding narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A quiet interior: Arjuna enters, sees Yudhiṣṭhira with Draupadī, bows with folded hands; the mood is intimate, respectful, and anticipatory of instruction.

Characters & Entities

• Draupadī
• Arjuna
• Yudhiṣṭhira (implied as brother)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is upheld through humility and reverence within the family, especially toward the righteous and elder authority.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is specified; the verse frames the ethical setting that precedes the pilgrimage events.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the emphasis is on vinaya (humble conduct) as a dharmic prerequisite for sacred undertakings.