Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 98

Devanagari script

पतंति नरके घोरे स्तब्धा वै नात्र संशयः

Transliteration

pataṃti narake ghore stabdhā vai nātra saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Les orgueilleux tombent assurément dans un enfer terrible ; il n’y a là aucun doute.

Word by Word

• patanti: fall
• patanti: Kriyā (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• narake: in hell
• narake: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ghore: terrible
• ghore: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (नरके)

• stabdhāḥ: arrogant, obstinate
• stabdhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: stabdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (ते)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• atra: here, in this matter
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (Scope/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: here/in this matter)

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Yayāti (contextual—continuous passage; explicit at 99)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kedāra narrative frame (ethical warning)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: The king / deva assembly

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A stark admonitory image: proud figures with uplifted chins and rigid posture tumble into a dark, fiery naraka; above, a faint light suggests the alternative path of humility and dharma.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual merit is ruined by pride; humility is essential for dharma and lasting punya.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kedāra-kṣetra is the setting of the Kedārakhaṇḍa, though this verse gives a universal ethical warning.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse functions as a direct moral admonition.