Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

यथा विहीनचन्द्रार्कं तथा राज्यमनायकम् । तस्मात्सर्वे सुरश्रेष्ठा विज्ञाप्यं मम सम्प्रति

Transliteration

yathā vihīnacandrārkaṃ tathā rājyamanāyakam | tasmātsarve suraśreṣṭhā vijñāpyaṃ mama samprati

Translation

“ചന്ദ്രസൂര്യരില്ലാത്ത ലോകം എങ്ങനെയോ, നായകനില്ലാത്ത രാജ്യം അങ്ങനെയാണ്. അതിനാൽ, ഹേ സുരശ്രേഷ്ഠന്മാരേ, ഇപ്പോൾ എന്റെ അപേക്ഷ കേൾക്കുക.”

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparison/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानार्थक (just as)

• विहीनचन्द्रार्कम्: devoid of moon and sun
• विहीनचन्द्रार्कम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विहीन + चन्द्र + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीह्यर्थे षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (चन्द्रार्काभ्यां विहीनम्)

• तथा: so
• तथा: Sambandha (Comparison/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तथैव (so, likewise)

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अनायकम्: leaderless
• अनायकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष/नञ्-समासः (न नायकः यस्य) विशेषण (of राज्यम्)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha (Causal/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (तद्-सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्ययप्रायः, तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् पञ्चमी-एकवचन-रूपम्; हेत्वर्थे (therefore/from that reason)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of सुरश्रेष्ठाः)

• सुरश्रेष्ठाः: O best of the gods
• सुरश्रेष्ठाः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सुराणां श्रेष्ठाः)

• विज्ञाप्यम्: a request (to be submitted)
• विज्ञाप्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि√ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be informed/requested’

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सम्प्रति: now
• सम्प्रति: Adhikarana (Temporal setting/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (now, at present)

Speaker

Indra (Śakra)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Revā-khaṇḍa narrative lead-in (specific tīrtha not named in this verse)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Pilgrimage audience (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A didactic simile visualized: a sky bereft of sun and moon contrasted with a kingdom without a leader; the priest urges the gods to act on his petition.

Characters & Entities

• Suras

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Order in the worlds depends on rightful leadership; when authority is compromised, restoration through dharmic means becomes necessary.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific site; the verse uses a cosmic simile to stress governance and urgency.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a petitioning verse preparing for a resolution.