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Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 6

अन्ये कौतूहलाविष्टाः संचरान्विषमान्मिथः । पप्रच्छुर्जहसुश्चान्ये ज्ञात्वा मार्गप्रवर्तिनम्

anye kautūhalāviṣṭāḥ saṃcarānviṣamānmithaḥ | papracchurjahasuścānye jñātvā mārgapravartinam

D’autres, saisis de curiosité, allaient et venaient parmi des sentiers inégaux. Les uns questionnaient, tandis que d’autres riaient, ayant reconnu celui qui conduisait la marche.

अन्येothers
अन्ये:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
कौतूहलाविष्टाःovercome by curiosity
कौतूहलाविष्टाः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootकौतूहल-आविष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; समास/कृदन्त)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त, √विश् with आ-), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कौतूहलेन आविष्टाः = possessed by curiosity)
सञ्चरान्wanderers, movers about
सञ्चरान्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootसञ्चर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
विषमान्uneven, difficult (paths/places)
विषमान्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootविषम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (uneven/difficult)
मिथःmutually, among themselves
मिथः:
Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमिथः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; परस्परवाचक (mutually)
पप्रच्छुःthey asked
पप्रच्छुः:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootप्रच्छ् (धातु) + प (अभ्यास)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
जहसुःthey laughed
जहसुः:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootहस् (धातु) + ज (अभ्यास)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
and
:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय
अन्येothers
अन्ये:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
ज्ञात्वाhaving known
ज्ञात्वा:
Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञात्वा (क्त्वा)
Formअव्ययीभाव-रूप कृदन्त; क्त्वान्त (gerund/absolutive)
मार्गप्रवर्तिनम्the path-finder/guide (one who leads on the path)
मार्गप्रवर्तिनम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमार्ग-प्रवर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मार्गे प्रवर्तते/प्रवर्तयति इति = one who proceeds on/sets forth the path)

Narrator (contextual; not explicit in this snippet)

Scene: A lively crowd on irregular pathways—some stepping carefully over stones or steps, others turning to ask questions; a central figure (the guide) is recognized, prompting smiles and laughter; the scene balances sacred travel with human warmth.

FAQs

On the pilgrimage-path, inquiry and guidance matter—recognizing the true guide helps one traverse difficult terrain and confusion.

The verse continues the scene-setting in Nāgarakhaṇḍa’s Tīrthamāhātmya; it does not name a particular tīrtha.

No explicit rite is stated; the focus is on movement, questioning, and following the guide on the path.