Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

यथा दंष्ट्राच्युतः सर्पो नागो वा मदवर्जितः । आज्ञाहीनस्तथा राजा मानवैः परिभूयते

Transliteration

yathā daṃṣṭrācyutaḥ sarpo nāgo vā madavarjitaḥ | ājñāhīnastathā rājā mānavaiḥ paribhūyate

Translation

Wie eine Schlange, der die Giftzähne genommen sind, oder ein Elefant, dem die Brunstkraft fehlt, geringgeachtet wird, so wird auch ein König ohne Befehlsgewalt von den Menschen verachtet.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamāna-marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• दंष्ट्रा: by/with the fangs
• दंष्ट्रा: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• च्युतः: fallen off/removed
• च्युतः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √च्यु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सर्पः: a snake
• सर्पः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• नागः: an elephant
• नागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (Disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• मदवर्जितः: devoid of rut/intoxication
• मदवर्जितः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद-वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; मदेन वर्जितः इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (devoid of rut/intoxication)

• आज्ञाहीनः: lacking authority/command
• आज्ञाहीनः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आज्ञा-हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; आज्ञया हीनः इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Upamāna-correlative
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तथैव/एवमेव (so/likewise)

• राजा: a king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• मानवैः: by men/people
• मानवैः: Karta (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• परिभूयते: is overpowered/treated with contempt
• परिभूयते: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive sense: is overpowered/insulted)

Speaker

Dūta (contextual; proverbial admonition)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Didactic tableau: a fangless snake recoils harmlessly; a great elephant without must stands subdued; in the background, a king without insignia of authority is ignored by commoners—visualizing the simile.

Characters & Entities

• Rājā (King)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Rājadharma requires effective authority; without rightful command, social order collapses and the ruler is dishonored.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named; the verse offers a dharmic-political maxim within the chapter’s narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.