Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

तदा विदुररूपेण ह्यवतीर्य धरातले । मांडव्यस्य वचः सत्यं स चकार महामतिः

Transliteration

tadā vidurarūpeṇa hyavatīrya dharātale | māṃḍavyasya vacaḥ satyaṃ sa cakāra mahāmatiḥ

Translation

Alors, descendant sur la terre sous la forme de Vidura, ce grand être fit s’accomplir les paroles de Māṇḍavya.

Word by Word

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal adverb): ‘then’

• vidurarūpeṇa: in the form of Vidura
• vidurarūpeṇa: Karana (Instrument/means: guise/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidura (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘विदुरस्य रूपम्’ (in the form of Vidura)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (Emphasis/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): ‘indeed/for’

• avatīrya: having descended
• avatīrya: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√tṝ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having descended’

• dharātale: on the earth’s surface
• dharātale: Adhikarana (Location/देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharā (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘धरायाः तलम्’ (on the surface of the earth)

• māṃḍavyasya: of Māṇḍavya
• māṃḍavyasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃḍavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• vacaḥ: word, statement
• vacaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• satyam: true
• satyam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying vacaḥ)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• cakāra: made, rendered
• cakāra: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• mahāmatiḥ: the great-minded one
• mahāmatiḥ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महती मतिः यस्य/महामतिः’ (as a title: great-minded)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Dharmarāja descends as Vidura: a subtle transfer from celestial judge to humble, wise minister; the scene can juxtapose Yama’s austere iconography with Vidura’s simple courtly attire and compassionate gaze.

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• Māṇḍavya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma operates across births; the narrative links identity and consequence through incarnation to fulfill moral law.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse belongs to the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya, where the kṣetra’s holiness is supported by such dharmic histories.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a narrative identification of Vidura as the earthly descent connected to the curse.