Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

यथा ब्रह्मादयो देवा गीतवाद्याभियोगतः । परां सिद्धि मवापुस्ते दुर्गाशिवसमीपतः

Transliteration

yathā brahmādayo devā gītavādyābhiyogataḥ | parāṃ siddhi mavāpuste durgāśivasamīpataḥ

Translation

De même que Brahmā et les autres dieux, par leur engagement dévot dans le chant et la musique instrumentale, obtinrent l’accomplissement suprême en présence de Durgā et de Śiva—

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Correlative/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (indeclinable of manner/comparison: “as/just as”)

• ब्रह्मादयः: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्मादयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन (Plural). समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आदि-समास: “Brahmā and others”)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन

• गीतवाद्याभियोगतः: from the undertaking of song and music
• गीतवाद्याभियोगतः: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīta (प्रातिपदिक) + vādya (प्रातिपदिक) + abhiyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative); एकवचन. समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गीत-वाद्य-सम्बन्धी अभियोगः; “from/through the undertaking of singing and instrumental music”)

• पराम्: supreme
• पराम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies ‘सिद्धिम्’)

• सिद्धिम्: attainment, perfection
• सिद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• अवापुः: attained
• अवापुः: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (धातु) उपसर्गः ava-
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person); बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun: “they/those”)

• दुर्गाशिवसमीपतः: from the vicinity of Durgā and Śiva
• दुर्गाशिवसमीपतः: Apadana/Adhikarana (Source/Location nuance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durgā (प्रातिपदिक) + śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + samīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समīप); पञ्चमी-विभक्ति; एकवचन. समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दुर्गा-शिवयोः समीपम्; “from/at the proximity of Durgā and Śiva”)

Speaker

Narrator within the Tīrthamāhātmya frame (deductive: Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa to sages)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A divine court: Brahmā and devas perform song and instruments before a conjoint vision of Durgā and Śiva; the atmosphere is ceremonial, luminous, and rhythmic.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Devas
• Durgā
• Śiva

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotional arts—song and music—are affirmed as valid worship leading to high spiritual attainment when directed toward the divine.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A specific geographical tīrtha is not named; the verse emphasizes divine proximity (samīpa) to Durgā and Śiva within the narrative’s devotional frame.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Engage in gīta and vādya (devotional singing and instrumental music) as a form of worship.