Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

स्वल्पायुषः सदा मर्त्या ब्रह्मन्कृतयुगे पुरा । त्रेतायां द्वापरे चैव किमु प्राप्ते कलौ युगे

Transliteration

svalpāyuṣaḥ sadā martyā brahmankṛtayuge purā | tretāyāṃ dvāpare caiva kimu prāpte kalau yuge

Translation

Ô brahmane, les mortels ont toujours eu une vie brève ; même dans l’antique Kṛta-yuga, et de même en Tretā et en Dvāpara ; combien plus encore maintenant que le Kali-yuga est advenu !

Word by Word

• स्वल्पायुषः: short-lived
• स्वल्पायुषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प-आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक); स्वल्प + आयुस्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (to ‘martyāḥ’)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मर्त्याः: mortals, humans
• मर्त्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin / O sage
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• कृतयुगे: in the Kṛta age
• कृतयुगे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत-युग (प्रातिपदिक); कृत + युग
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly, in olden times
• पुरा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: formerly)

• त्रेतायाम्: in Tretā (age)
• त्रेतायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रेता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• द्वापरे: in Dvāpara (age)
• द्वापरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वापर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (युगवाचक), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed, even
• एव: Nipata (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• किमु: how much more (then)
• किमु: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् + उ (अव्यय-समूह)
• Form: प्रश्न/अधिक्यबोधक-निपात (interrogative/emphatic particle: ‘how much more’)

• प्राप्ते: when (it has) come, upon the arrival of
• प्राप्ते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘(युगे) प्राप्ते’ सति (locative absolute sense)

• कलौ: in Kali (age)
• कलौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• युगे: in the age
• युगे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Aśvasena (continuing)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Bhartṛyajña

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A contemplative tableau: the king reflects on the passing of ages—Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, Kali—shown as four panels or symbolic shifts in light; the final panel (Kali) appears dimmer, prompting urgency.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛta-yuga
• Tretā-yuga
• Dvāpara-yuga
• Kali-yuga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Because life is uncertain and brief, one should adopt dharma that is doable now, not postponed.

Which specific holy site (Tīrtha) is glorified here?

None named here; the emphasis is on time (yuga) and human limitation.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

An implicit preference for concise observances suitable for limited lifespan, especially in Kali-yuga.