Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

यक्षणामभिजातानां भग्नं प्रववृते रणात् । मर्तुं संग्राम शिरसि युक्तं नो भूषणाय तत्

Transliteration

yakṣaṇāmabhijātānāṃ bhagnaṃ pravavṛte raṇāt | martuṃ saṃgrāma śirasi yuktaṃ no bhūṣaṇāya tat

Translation

“For Yakṣas of noble birth, to break and withdraw from battle is not fitting. It is proper to die at the forefront of war—this, not ornament, is our true honor.”

Word by Word

• यक्षाणाम्: of the Yakṣas
• यक्षाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th) बहुवचनम् (genitive plural)

• अभिजातानाम्: of the noble-born
• अभिजातानाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + जात (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √जन्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘अभिजात’ = well-born/noble; पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् यक्षाणाम्

• भग्नम्: the rout; the breaking (of ranks)
• भग्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भग्न (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √भञ्ज्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘भग्न’ = broken/defeat; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्; कर्तृस्थानीयं (as subject: ‘the breaking/defeat’)

• प्रववृते: occurred; set in
• प्रववृते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत) 3rd पुरुषः एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• रणात्: from the battle
• रणात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी (5th) एकवचनम् (ablative singular)

• मर्तुम्: to die
• मर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (infinitive) = to die

• संग्राम: of battle
• संग्राम: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th) एकवचनम् (genitive singular) — ‘of battle’ (used with शिरसि)

• शिरसि: on the head; at the forefront
• शिरसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th) एकवचनम् (locative singular)

• युक्तम्: proper; fitting
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (Predicate qualifier/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √युज्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘युक्त’ = fitting/proper; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicate)

• नः: for us; our
• नः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th) बहुवचनम् (genitive plural) = our

• भूषणाय: for ornament; as an adornment
• भूषणाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी) एकवचनम् (dative singular)

• तत्: that (thing)
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (nom./acc. singular)

Speaker

Yakṣas (collective resolve; narrated by Sūta)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Yakṣa leader addresses his companions near the fallen crown, rejecting ornament and proclaiming death at the battle-front as true honor; warriors tighten grips on weapons.

Characters & Entities

• Yakṣas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Svadharma (one’s rightful duty) requires courage and steadfastness; true honor lies in righteous resolve, not external display.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced; the focus is on dharma and martial duty within the narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a declaration of duty and honor.