Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 18
Devanagari script
इति राज्ञा समादिष्टौ भीतौ द्विजकुमारकौ । प्रत्यूचतुरिदं कर्म कर्तुं नौ जायते भयम्
Transliteration
iti rājñā samādiṣṭau bhītau dvijakumārakau | pratyūcaturidaṃ karma kartuṃ nau jāyate bhayam
Translation
Thus commanded by the king, the two brāhmaṇa youths—afraid—replied: ‘We are frightened to carry out this deed.’
Word by Word
itithus
iti:
Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय, इत्यादि-उक्त्यर्थक (quotative: thus)
rājñāby the king
rājñā:
Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootrājan (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन
samādiṣṭau(they) having been ordered
samādiṣṭau:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootsam-ā-diś (धातु)
Formकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; अर्थः—समादिष्टौ = having been ordered
bhītauafraid
bhītau:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootbhīta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √bhī)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण (afraid)
dvija-kumārakauthe two young brahmin boys
dvija-kumārakau:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdvija (प्रातिपदिक) + kumāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमास: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: द्विजस्य कुमारकौ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन
pratyūcatuḥthey replied
pratyūcatuḥ:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु) उपसर्ग: prati- + ud-
Formलिट् लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; अर्थः—replied
idamthis
idam:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootidam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
karmaact, deed
karma:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkarman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
kartumto do
kartum:
Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
TypeVerb
Rootkṛ (धातु)
Formतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), धातु: कृ (to do)
naufor us two
nau:
Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (genitive/dative), द्विवचन; अत्र कर्तरि-अनधिकारार्थे ‘to/for us two’
jāyatearises / is possible
jāyate:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootjan (धातु)
Formलट् लकार (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थः—arises/is possible
bhayamfear
bhayam:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
Speaker
Dvijakumārakau (two brāhmaṇa youths)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: Two young brāhmaṇa students, hands folded, faces pale with fear, respond to the king’s command; the court watches, tension between power and conscience palpable.
Characters & Entities
R
RājāD
DvijakumārakauFAQs
Moral fear can be a protective sign of dharma—hesitation arises when an act seems unrighteous.
No holy site is referenced in this verse.
None.