Skanda Purana — Vishnu Khanda, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

प्रतापतापितारातिवर्गव्याख्यातसद्यशाः । प्रजाः पालयता सम्यक्तेननीतिमता सता

Transliteration

pratāpatāpitārātivargavyākhyātasadyaśāḥ | prajāḥ pālayatā samyaktenanītimatā satā

Translation

Sa noble renommée fut proclamée par la troupe même des ennemis brûlés par sa vaillance ; et ce roi juste, versé dans l’art du gouvernement, protégea comme il se doit ses sujets.

Word by Word

• प्रतापतापितारातिवर्गव्याख्यातसद्यशाः: whose immediate fame was proclaimed by the enemy-host scorched by his prowess
• प्रतापतापितारातिवर्गव्याख्यातसद्यशाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रताप + तापित + अराति + वर्ग + व्याख्यात + सत्-यशस् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—'प्रतापेन तापितोऽरातिवर्गः येन, तेन व्याख्यातं सद्यशः यस्य सः' इति; विशेषण (qualifying रघुः)

• प्रजाः: subjects, people
• प्रजाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• पालयता: by (him) protecting
• पालयता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालयत् (पाल् धातु; शतृ-प्रत्यय, वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; 'पालयता (by one who protects)'

• सम्यक्: properly, rightly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• नीतिमता: endowed with policy/wise conduct
• नीतिमता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying तेन)

• सता: virtuous, good
• सता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying तेन)

Speaker

Agastya (narration continues)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ayodhyā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A righteous king seated in court, calm yet formidable; defeated enemies stand at a distance, their pride ‘scorched’ by his valor; citizens appear secure and orderly under his protection.

Characters & Entities

• Raghu (implied)
• prajā (subjects)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True royal glory is measured by righteous protection of subjects and disciplined power aligned with nīti and dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse supports Ayodhyā’s māhātmya indirectly by elevating the dharmic character of its Raghu-line rulers.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a praise-description of dharmic kingship.