Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

अथ देवगणाः सर्वे भयसंत्रस्तमानसाः । शक्रविष्णुमुखा जग्मुर्यत्र देवः पितामहः

Transliteration

atha devagaṇāḥ sarve bhayasaṃtrastamānasāḥ | śakraviṣṇumukhā jagmuryatra devaḥ pitāmahaḥ

Translation

Alors toutes les cohortes des dieux, l’esprit ébranlé par la peur—conduites par Śakra et Viṣṇu—se rendirent là où se tenait le divin Pitāmaha (Brahmā).

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connective)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अनुक्रमसूचक (then)

• देवगणाः: hosts of gods
• देवगणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां गणाः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘देवगणाः’ इति विशेषणम्

• भयसंत्रस्तमानसाः: whose minds were terrified by fear
• भयसंत्रस्तमानसाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + संत्रस्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (भयेन संत्रस्तं मानसं येषाम्)

• शक्रविष्णुमुखाः: with Indra and Viṣṇu in front
• शक्रविष्णुमुखाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (शक्र-विष्णू मुखे यस्य/येषाम्) = ‘with Indra and Viṣṇu at the head’

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम्; सम्बन्धबोधक (where)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• पितामहः: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ब्रह्मा (epithet)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A procession of devas led by Indra and Viṣṇu moves swiftly through luminous space toward Brahmā’s radiant seat; their faces show fear tempered by resolve.

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Viṣṇu
• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• Devagaṇa (gods)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In crisis, even the gods seek higher counsel; Purāṇic dharma emphasizes humility, consultation, and turning toward divine wisdom.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of a tīrtha-māhātmya narrative arc, but no particular location is named in this line.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it narrates the gods’ approach to Brahmā as a prelude to stotra and remedial action.