Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 41

Devanagari script

इत्युक्ताः सादरं सर्वे वृकोदरमुखास्तदा । प्रसन्नवदना भूत्वा धर्मपुत्रानुजाः पुरात्

Transliteration

ityuktāḥ sādaraṃ sarve vṛkodaramukhāstadā | prasannavadanā bhūtvā dharmaputrānujāḥ purāt

Translation

Ainsi interpellés avec égards, tous—menés par Vṛkodara (Bhīma)—prirent un visage serein et joyeux, et quittèrent la cité, eux, les frères cadets de Dharmaputra.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-शब्दः; वाक्यसमाप्त्यर्थक/उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय

• उक्ताः: having been told/addressed
• उक्ताः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• सादरम्: respectfully
• सादरम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सादर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन-आकारान्त प्रयोगः; अव्ययीभाव-प्राय (adverbial use)

• सर्वे: all (of them)
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषणप्रयोग

• वृकोदरमुखाः: those led by Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• वृकोदरमुखाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृकोदर + मुख (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—वृकोदरः मुखं यस्य (i.e., having Bhīma as the foremost/face)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (Temporal locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• प्रसन्नवदनाः: with cheerful faces
• प्रसन्नवदनाः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न + वदन (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—प्रसन्नं वदनं येषाम्

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); अव्ययभाव

• धर्मपुत्रानुजाः: younger brothers of Dharmaputra
• धर्मपुत्रानुजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मपुत्र + अनुज (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—धर्मपुत्रस्य (युधिष्ठिरस्य) अनुजाः

• पुरात्: from of old/previously
• पुरात्: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: पुरा-शब्दस्य तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त रूपम्; अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator, likely Sūta-style narration) (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The Pāṇḍavas, led by Bhīma (Vṛkodara), receive the king’s words respectfully, faces bright with resolve, and step out of the city gates with attendants and banners.

Characters & Entities

• Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Pāṇḍavas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When a dharmic purpose is set, unity, respect, and joyful resolve become the strength of righteous action.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Setukhaṇḍa frames the narrative within the glory of Setu-kṣetra, though this verse highlights the Pāṇḍavas’ departure.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct rite is prescribed here; it supports the larger yajña context by describing the brothers’ mobilization.