Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

शाक्रं पदं समासाद्य यस्मादेतेन पाप्मना । अतिक्रांता वयं सर्वे तस्मात्पात्यः स सत्पदात्

Transliteration

śākraṃ padaṃ samāsādya yasmādetena pāpmanā | atikrāṃtā vayaṃ sarve tasmātpātyaḥ sa satpadāt

Translation

“Since, upon reaching the station of Śakra, we have all been overstepped by this sinful one, therefore he must be made to fall from that noble rank.”

Word by Word

• śākram: of Śakra/Indra’s
• śākram: Karma (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śākra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (padaṃ)

• padam: position, post
• padam: Karma (object of samāsādya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• samāsādya: having attained
• samāsādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-sad (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having attained/reached’

• yasmāt: because/from which
• yasmāt: Hetu/Apādāna (from which/because)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; यत्-शब्द

• etena: by this (one)
• etena: Karaṇa (instrument/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• pāpmanā: by sin/evil
• pāpmanā: Karaṇa/Hetu (instrumental of cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• atikrāntāḥ: have been surpassed/overstepped
• atikrāntāḥ: Karta (predicate participle of vayaṃ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati-kram (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘overstepped/surpassed’

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (vayam)

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu/Conclusion marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (correlative): ‘therefore/from that reason’ (तस्मात्)

• pātyaḥ: should be cast down
• pātyaḥ: Vidhi (predicate adjective of saḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pat (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त साध्य/योग्य-वाचक कृदन्त: ‘to be made to fall/should be cast down’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• satpadāt: from the noble post
• satpadāt: Apādāna (from)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: सत्-पद (कर्मधारय: ‘good/exalted position’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

Speaker

Vālakhilya Munis (collective resolve, expressed as a mantra-intention)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: In the hermitage, the sages pronounce a stern vow: because this sinner has overstepped them even up to Indra’s station, he must be made to fall from that exalted post.

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Vālakhilyas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Rank and power are legitimate only when aligned with dharma; arrogance and wrongdoing lead to downfall.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None; the verse concerns the cosmic office of Indra rather than a named geographical tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A sankalpa-like intention within a mantra rite to remove an unworthy ruler from office.