Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

चतुर्हस्तसमोपेत आखुवाहनगस्तथा । कुठारहस्तश्च तथा मोदकाशनतोषकृत्

Transliteration

caturhastasamopeta ākhuvāhanagastathā | kuṭhārahastaśca tathā modakāśanatoṣakṛt

Translation

Doté de quatre mains, et ayant pour monture la souris ; tenant une hache en sa main, il se réjouit en mangeant des modakas.

Word by Word

• चतुर्हस्तसमोपेतः: endowed with four hands
• चतुर्हस्तसमोपेतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + हस्त + समुपेत (कृदन्त; सम्-उप-√इ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त ‘समुपेत’ = endowed with; समासः (चत्वारः हस्ताः यस्य)

• आखुवाहनगः: having a mouse as his vehicle
• आखुवाहनगः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आखु + वाहन + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘ग’ = going/being; अर्थतः ‘आखुवाहनः’ (whose vehicle is a mouse)

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कुठारहस्तः: having an axe in (his) hand
• कुठारहस्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुठार + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (कुठारः हस्ते यस्य)

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

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मोदकाशनतोषकृत्: one who is pleased by eating modakas
• मोदकाशनतोषकृत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोदक + अशन + तोष + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘कृत्’ = maker/doer; समासः (मोदकानाम् अशनात् तोषं करोति)

Speaker

Sūta (contextual continuation)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṇanātha

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣayaḥ

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A clear devotional visualization: Gaṇeśa with four hands, mouse mount, holding an axe, enjoying modakas—an approachable, auspicious deity-form.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇeśa
• Ākhu (mouse)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The deity’s form teaches function: Gaṇeśa’s attributes symbolize protection, removal of impediments, and accessible devotion through simple offerings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it supports the broader tīrtha-māhātmya narrative by establishing Gaṇeśa’s identity.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implied devotional offering: modakas are associated with pleasing Gaṇeśa, though no formal ritual rule is stated here.