Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

यथा विडंबना जाता देवराजस्य गर्हिता । तथा च दानवैः सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं व्याकुलीकृतम्

Transliteration

yathā viḍaṃbanā jātā devarājasya garhitā | tathā ca dānavaiḥ sarvaṃ trailokyaṃ vyākulīkṛtam

Translation

Ils dirent comment une humiliation honteuse et blâmable s’abattit sur le roi des dieux, et comment, par là même, les Dānavas jetèrent les trois mondes dans le trouble.

Word by Word

• yathā: as, just as
• yathā: Sambandha/Avyaya (Correlative/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (correlative adverb: 'as/how')

• viḍaṃbanā: mockery, humiliation
• viḍaṃbanā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viḍaṃbanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• jātā: arose, happened
• jātā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jan (धातु) + tā (क्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past participle, Feminine, Nominative, Singular (agreeing with viḍaṃbanā)

• devarājasya: of the king of gods
• devarājasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Singular; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां राजा)

• garhitā: censured, condemned
• garhitā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √garh (धातु) + tā (क्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past participle, Feminine, Nominative, Singular (agreeing with viḍaṃbanā)

• tathā: so, likewise
• tathā: Sambandha/Avyaya (Adverbial/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Avyaya (Connector/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• dānavaiḥ: by the Dānavas (demons)
• dānavaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• sarvam: entire, all
• sarvam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular (agreeing with trailokyam)

• trailokyam: the three worlds
• trailokyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular; समासः—द्विगु (त्रयो लोकाः)

• vyākulīkṛtam: made distressed/agitated
• vyākulīkṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-ā-√kul (धातु/प्रातिपदिक vyākula) + √kṛ (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past participle, Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular (agreeing with trailokyam)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narrator)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Indra’s humiliation is contrasted with the Dānavas’ surge: the three worlds appear unsettled—stormy skies, trembling palaces, anxious devas and humans.

Characters & Entities

• Devarāja (Indra)
• Dānava
• Trailokya (three worlds)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When leadership falls into disgrace, adharma gains ground—therefore restoration of righteousness is urgent.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is named in this verse; it sets the crisis that later frames the tīrtha’s greatness.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.