Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

इन्द्र उवाच । कस्मात्तत्र दिने श्राद्धं क्रियते मधुसूदन । शस्त्रैर्विनिहतानां च सर्वं मे विस्तराद्वद

Transliteration

indra uvāca | kasmāttatra dine śrāddhaṃ kriyate madhusūdana | śastrairvinihatānāṃ ca sarvaṃ me vistarādvada

Translation

Indra dit : « Ô Madhusūdana, pourquoi accomplit-on le śrāddha en ce jour précis ? Et surtout pour ceux qui furent frappés par les armes — expose-m’en tout le détail. »

Word by Word

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कस्मात्: from what cause? why?
• कस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Reason/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: there)

• दिने: on that day
• दिने: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• श्राद्धम्: śrāddha rite
• श्राद्धम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• क्रियते: is performed
• क्रियते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• मधुसूदन: O slayer of Madhu (Viṣṇu)
• मधुसूदन: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु-सूदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मधुं सूदयति/हन्ति)

• शस्त्रैः: by weapons
• शस्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• विनिहतानाम्: of those who have been slain
• विनिहतानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-नि-हत (कृदन्त; √हन् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative) एकवचन (enclitic)

• विस्तरात्: in detail
• विस्तरात्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-प्रयोगेण क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial ablative: in detail)

• वद: speak; tell
• वद: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Indra

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gayā (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Madhusūdana (Bhagavān)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra presses for detailed explanation: a didactic scene with the Lord, with symbolic weapons (śastra) shown in a subdued vignette to indicate those slain in battle, contrasted with the calm ritual setting of śrāddha.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu)
• Śrāddha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

One should understand the reasons behind dharmic observances—rituals are not arbitrary, but rooted in cosmic timing and compassionate purpose.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The surrounding context continues to elevate Gayā as the preeminent tīrtha for such rites.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A request for detailed justification of performing śrāddha on the specified day, including its relevance for those who died violently.