Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 63

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भयार्तस्य बृहस्पतिः । प्रोवाच सुचिरं ध्यात्वा ततो देवं शतक्रतुम्

Transliteration

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā bhayārtasya bṛhaspatiḥ | provāca suciraṃ dhyātvā tato devaṃ śatakratum

Translation

Als Bṛhaspati die Worte dessen hörte, der von Furcht gequält war, sprach er—nach langem Nachsinnen—daraufhin zu dem Gott Śatakratu (Indra).

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier of वचनम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (वचनम् इत्यस्य)

• वचनम्: speech; statement
• वचनम्: Karma (Object of श्रुत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive): 'having heard'

• भयार्तस्य: of the fear-stricken (one)
• भयार्तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier of तस्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः: 'भयेन आर्तः' (afflicted by fear)

• बृहस्पतिः: Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पतिः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचनम्

• प्रोवाच: said; spoke forth
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• सुचिरम्: for a long time
• सुचिरम्: Kala (Time adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सुचिर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययप्रयोगः (adverbial accusative: 'for a long time')

• ध्यात्वा: having pondered
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive): 'having meditated/thought'

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: ततः इति अव्ययम्; क्रम/अपादानार्थे (then/thereupon; from there)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object of प्रोवाच)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्

• शतक्रतुम्: Śatakratu (Indra)
• शतक्रतुम्: Karma (Apposition to देवम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः: 'शतं क्रतवो यस्य सः' (epithet of Indra)

Speaker

Narrator (within the adhyāya’s dialogue frame; deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Bṛhaspati, serene and luminous, pauses in contemplation, then addresses Indra seated with royal yet anxious bearing; attendants and a subtle celestial backdrop.

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhaspati
• Indra (Śatakratu)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In crisis, guidance from a realized teacher is essential; careful reflection precedes effective dharmic instruction.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named here; it is the narrative pivot leading to Viṣṇu-centered practice and its sacred geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it introduces the forthcoming vrata teaching.