Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 22

Devanagari script

तथा मे भृत्यवर्गास्ते कुलीना युद्धदुर्मदाः । मां विना कस्य यास्यंति समीपेऽद्य सुदुःखिताः

Transliteration

tathā me bhṛtyavargāste kulīnā yuddhadurmadāḥ | māṃ vinā kasya yāsyaṃti samīpe'dya suduḥkhitāḥ

Translation

Dan para pengiring hambaku—kaum bangsawan, gagah dan angkuh di medan perang—tanpa diriku, hari ini dalam duka yang dalam, kepada siapa mereka akan mendekat?

Word by Word

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• भृत्यवर्गाः: groups of servants/retainers
• भृत्यवर्गाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कुलीनाः: well-born/noble
• कुलीनाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुलीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• युद्धदुर्मदाः: arrogant in battle
• युद्धदुर्मदाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्ध + दुर्मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वियोगार्थक (without), द्वितीया-संबन्धी

• कस्य: of whom? / whose?
• कस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); प्रश्नवाचक

• यास्यन्ति: will go
• यास्यन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• समीपे: near (to someone)
• समीपे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kala-adhikarana (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• सुदुःखिताः: very distressed
• सुदुःखिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण

Speaker

Unnamed king (rājā) lamenting his imminent loss/banishment due to a curse (śāpa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The king recalls his noble, battle-proud attendants now sorrowful and leaderless; a martial retinue stands with lowered banners and downcast faces.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha (implied by later verses)
• Vāsiṣṭhas (implied by later verses)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Earthly power depends on relationships and dharma; when fate and curse intervene, even loyal strength becomes uncertain.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This verse is part of the broader Tīrthamāhātmya narrative flow; the specific tīrtha is not named in this single śloka.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it is a lament within a larger māhātmya story.