Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 29

Devanagari script

अस्मन्नाशाय मुनिभिर्वालखिल्यैः प्रजापते । प्रोद्यमो विहितः सम्यक्छक्रस्यान्यस्य वै कृते

Transliteration

asmannāśāya munibhirvālakhilyaiḥ prajāpate | prodyamo vihitaḥ samyakchakrasyānyasya vai kṛte

Translation

O Prajāpati (Dakṣa), the Vālakhilya sages have rightly set in motion an undertaking for our ruin—indeed, it is being done on behalf of another Indra.

Word by Word

• अस्मत्-नाशाय: for our destruction
• अस्मत्-नाशाय: Sampradana/Prayojana (Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative/4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (for the purpose/result)

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• वालखिल्यैः: by the Vālakhilyas
• वालखिल्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालखिल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• प्रजापते: O Prajāpati
• प्रजापते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• प्र-उद्यमः: an undertaking/effort
• प्र-उद्यमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र (उपसर्ग) + उद्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विहितः: has been arranged/ordained
• विहितः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• शक्रस्य: of Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रस्य: Sambandha (Possession/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• अन्यस्य: of another
• अन्यस्य: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वै: indeed
• वै: Emphasis (निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/खल्वर्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• कृते: for the sake (of)
• कृते: Nimitta/Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; हेतौ/निमित्ते (in the matter of/for the sake of)

Speaker

Indra (speaking to Dakṣa, inferred from immediate narrative context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra speaks to Dakṣa with urgency: gestures toward himself and the devas, indicating collective danger; in the background, a faint symbolic shadow of a 'new Indra' (anyaḥ śakraḥ) is suggested—an empty throne or a second crown—signifying impending replacement.

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣa (Prajāpati)
• Vālakhilya sages
• Indra (Śakra)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Tapas and mantra in the hands of sages are depicted as world-ordering powers; leadership without humility can invite lawful correction.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of the Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narrative frame; it does not specify a named tīrtha in this line.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

An organized ‘undertaking’ (prodyama) by the Vālakhilyas is referenced, implying a sustained rite/tapas aimed at installing another Śakra.