Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

नागराणां द्विजेद्राणां यथान्यः प्राकृतस्तथा

Transliteration

nāgarāṇāṃ dvijedrāṇāṃ yathānyaḥ prākṛtastathā

Translation

“Di antara para Nāgara dan para dvija terkemuka, ia akan dipandang seperti orang biasa belaka—tanpa keistimewaan apa pun.”

Word by Word

• नागराणाम्: of the citizens
• नागराणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• द्विजेद्राणाम्: of the chiefs among the twice-born
• द्विजेद्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘द्विजानाम् इन्द्राः’ (lords among the twice-born)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/just as)

• अन्यः: another person
• अन्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्राकृतः: common/ordinary
• प्राकृतः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तथैव (so/likewise)

Speaker

Nāgaras (collective speakers within Sūta’s narration)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya sages (standard frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The council declares the offender will be treated like any ordinary person; visual emphasis on removal of insignia—seat, garland, or honor—signifying loss of privileged standing.

Characters & Entities

• Nāgaras
• Dvijedras (foremost dvijas)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Honor in dharma is conduct-based; when conduct falls, social and religious esteem is withdrawn.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The ethical ruling is embedded in the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra-māhātmya narrative, reflecting the kṣetra’s dharmic governance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it states a social consequence—being treated as prākṛta (ordinary) among Nāgaras and dvija leaders.