Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

शस्त्रशिक्षाक्रियाभिश्च दमनेन च दन्तिनाम् । तथाभिवांछितैरन्यैः स्नेहोऽस्ति यदि वो मयि

Transliteration

śastraśikṣākriyābhiśca damanena ca dantinām | tathābhivāṃchitairanyaiḥ sneho'sti yadi vo mayi

Translation

—durch Übungen in der Waffenlehre, durch das Zähmen der Elefanten und durch andere Betätigungen nach eurem Wunsch—wenn ihr wahrlich Zuneigung zu mir tragt.

Word by Word

• शस्त्रशिक्षाक्रियाभिः: by weaponry, training, and exercises
• शस्त्रशिक्षाक्रियाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (weapons-training-activities)

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

• दमनेन: by taming; by subduing
• दमनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• दन्तिनाम्: of elephants
• दन्तिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/also')

• अभिवाञ्छितैः: by desired (things); by what is wished for
• अभिवाञ्छितैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + वाञ्छ् (धातु) + अभिवाञ्छित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• अन्यैः: by other (means/things)
• अन्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• स्नेहः: affection; love
• स्नेहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional conjunction)

• वः: of you; your
• वः: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप

• मयि: in me; towards me
• मयि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Viṣṇu (continuing reply in context)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: (audience of the narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Vāsudeva lists disciplined activities—weapon drills, elephant-taming, and other desired pursuits—conditioning them on mutual affection and harmony.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Elephants (dantin)
• Kuru
• Pāṇḍava

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Affection for the Lord is shown not only by words but by disciplined living—training, restraint, and purposeful activity.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The tīrtha of Adhyāya 73 (Nāgarakhaṇḍa) is implied as a place fit for dharmic residence and disciplined conduct.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual like snāna/dāna/japa is stated; instead, practical disciplines (weapons training, elephant taming) are mentioned.