Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

तथान्यानि विचित्राणि कूटयुद्धान्यनेकशः । भीषिकाः कुहकाश्चैव शक्रजालानि कृत्स्नशः

Transliteration

tathānyāni vicitrāṇi kūṭayuddhānyanekaśaḥ | bhīṣikāḥ kuhakāścaiva śakrajālāni kṛtsnaśaḥ

Translation

De même, bien d’autres guerres de ruse, étranges et merveilleuses, furent maintes fois conçues—machines terrifiantes, artifices trompeurs, et, tout entières, des rets d’illusion pareils à ceux d’Indra.

Word by Word

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connective)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — 'also/likewise'

• अन्यानि: other
• अन्यानि: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन — विशेषण

• विचित्राणि: variegated, wondrous
• विचित्राणि: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन — विशेषण

• कूटयुद्धानि: deceptive/feigned battles (stratagems)
• कूटयुद्धानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूट + युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन — तत्पुरुषः (कूटं युद्धम्)

• अनेकशः: in many ways, repeatedly
• अनेकशः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रकारवाचक) — 'in many ways/many times'

• भीषिकाः: terrifying devices/engines (bhīṣikā)
• भीषिकाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीषिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कुहकाः: tricks, illusions
• कुहकाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुहक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण)

• शक्रजालानि: Indra-nets (magical nets)
• शक्रजालानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र + जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन — तत्पुरुषः (शक्रस्य जालानि)

• कृत्स्नशः: completely, in full
• कृत्स्नशः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृत्स्नशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (परिमाण/समग्रता) — 'entirely, completely'

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A surreal battlefield where shimmering nets of illusion spread across the sky; terrifying contraptions loom, while devas counter with luminous clarity—figures half-veiled by mirage-like patterns.

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (as epithet in śakrajāla)
• Kūṭayuddha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Illusion and trickery may appear powerful, yet dharma ultimately tests what is real, steadfast, and divinely aligned.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.