Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

तथा मे भृत्यवर्गास्ते कुलीना युद्धदुर्मदाः । मां विना कस्य यास्यंति समीपेऽद्य सुदुःखिताः

Transliteration

tathā me bhṛtyavargāste kulīnā yuddhadurmadāḥ | māṃ vinā kasya yāsyaṃti samīpe'dya suduḥkhitāḥ

Translation

Und auch meine Dienerschar—edle Männer, kampfesstolz—zu wessen Seite werden sie heute ohne mich gehen, von tiefem Kummer erfüllt?

Word by Word

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• भृत्यवर्गाः: groups of servants/retainers
• भृत्यवर्गाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कुलीनाः: well-born/noble
• कुलीनाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुलीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• युद्धदुर्मदाः: arrogant in battle
• युद्धदुर्मदाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्ध + दुर्मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वियोगार्थक (without), द्वितीया-संबन्धी

• कस्य: of whom? / whose?
• कस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); प्रश्नवाचक

• यास्यन्ति: will go
• यास्यन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• समीपे: near (to someone)
• समीपे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kala-adhikarana (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• सुदुःखिताः: very distressed
• सुदुःखिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

Speaker

Unnamed king (rājā) lamenting his imminent loss/banishment due to a curse (śāpa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The king recalls his noble, battle-proud attendants now sorrowful and leaderless; a martial retinue stands with lowered banners and downcast faces.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha (implied by later verses)
• Vāsiṣṭhas (implied by later verses)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Earthly power depends on relationships and dharma; when fate and curse intervene, even loyal strength becomes uncertain.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This verse is part of the broader Tīrthamāhātmya narrative flow; the specific tīrtha is not named in this single śloka.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it is a lament within a larger māhātmya story.