Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 29

Devanagari script

सर्वेषां सुरमर्त्यानां दैत्यानां मन्त्रकोविदः । गतिर्भयार्तदेहानां सर्वलोकपितामहः

Transliteration

sarveṣāṃ suramartyānāṃ daityānāṃ mantrakovidaḥ | gatirbhayārtadehānāṃ sarvalokapitāmahaḥ

Translation

«Pour tous—dieux et mortels, même les Daityas—il est le connaisseur du conseil sacré; et pour ceux dont le corps est meurtri par la peur, le Pitāmaha, Aïeul de tous les mondes (Brahmā), est refuge et recours.»

Word by Word

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sura-martyānām: of gods and mortals
• sura-martyānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + martya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (gods and mortals)

• daityānām: of the Daityas (demons)
• daityānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• mantra-kovidaḥ: knower of mantras; mantra-expert
• mantra-kovidaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + kovida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः: ‘मन्त्रेषु कोविदः’ (skilled in mantras)

• gatiḥ: refuge, course, resort
• gatiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhaya-ārta-dehānām: of those whose bodies are distressed by fear
• bhaya-ārta-dehānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + ārta (प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला: ‘भयेन आर्तानां देहानाम्’ (of bodies afflicted by fear)

• sarva-loka-pitāmahaḥ: the grandsire of all worlds (Brahmā)
• sarva-loka-pitāmahaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक) + pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘सर्वलोकानां पितामहः’

Speaker

Narrator within the episode (contextually describing Brahmā as refuge to the Devas)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A calm, authoritative Brahmā radiates reassurance while devas, humans, and even daityas are symbolically shown turning toward him as a common refuge.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Sarvalokapitāmaha)
• Devas
• Mortals
• Daityas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In crisis, seekers turn to the highest available wisdom and lawful authority; dharma values counsel grounded in mantra and cosmic order.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tirtha is named here; the verse frames Brahmā’s role before the narrative moves toward Mahādeva’s sacred locale.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No explicit rite is prescribed; ‘mantra’ is referenced as Brahmā’s domain of knowledge and guidance.