Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 23

Devanagari script

क्षमया पृथिवीतुल्याः कोपे वैश्वानरप्रभाः । पातनेऽनेकशक्तीनां समर्था यूयमेव हि

Transliteration

kṣamayā pṛthivītulyāḥ kope vaiśvānaraprabhāḥ | pātane'nekaśaktīnāṃ samarthā yūyameva hi

Translation

Dans la patience vous êtes semblables à la Terre; dans la colère vous flamboiez comme le feu cosmique. Oui, vous seuls êtes capables d’abattre des puissances de maintes sortes.

Word by Word

• क्षमया: by/with forbearance
• क्षमया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• पृथिवीतुल्याः: equal to the earth (in patience)
• पृथिवीतुल्याः: Karta (Subject complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक) + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पृथिव्या तुल्याः)

• कोपे: in anger
• कोपे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• वैश्वानरप्रभाः: radiant like fire (Vaiśvānara)
• वैश्वानरप्रभाः: Karta (Subject complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैश्वानर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वैश्वानरस्य प्रभा इव)

• पातने: in the bringing-down / destruction
• पातने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अनेकशक्तीनाम्: of many powers
• अनेकशक्तीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (अनेकाः शक्तयः)

• समर्थाः: capable
• समर्थाः: Karta (Subject complement/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• यूयम्: you (all)
• यूयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारणार्थक-निपात)

• हि: for / indeed
• हि: Hetu/Emphasis (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-निपात)

Speaker

Unspecified (Tīrthamāhātmya narrative voice; likely praising brāhmaṇas/ritual specialists addressed as ‘you’)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Twofold portrayal: the same revered figures—calm, steady like Earth bearing all—then radiant with controlled flames like cosmic fire when confronting adharma; surrounding ‘powers’ (personified forces) bow or fall.

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśvānara

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True spiritual authority is marked by earth-like patience, yet it holds fire-like power when dharma is violated.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No explicit tīrtha is named in this verse; it supports the broader tīrtha-māhātmya by exalting dharmic guardians.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual instruction appears; the verse characterizes the moral-spiritual power of the addressed community.