Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 39

Devanagari script

स च सर्वान्रणे जित्वा कर्तव्यः पृथिवीपतीन् । अतो विजेतुं भूपालांश्चत्वरोऽपि ससैनिकाः

Transliteration

sa ca sarvānraṇe jitvā kartavyaḥ pṛthivīpatīn | ato vijetuṃ bhūpālāṃścatvaro'pi sasainikāḥ

Translation

ആ കാര്യം യുദ്ധത്തിൽ ഭൂമിയിലെ എല്ലാ രാജാക്കളെയും ജയിച്ചാൽ മാത്രമേ സാധിക്കൂ. അതിനാൽ നിങ്ങൾ നാലുപേരും നിങ്ങളുടെ സൈന്യങ്ങളോടുകൂടെ ഭൂപാലന്മാരെ ജയിക്കാൻ പുറപ്പെടുക.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• sarvān: all
• sarvān: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् pṛthivīpatīn/भूपालान् प्रति

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th case/locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• jitvā: having conquered
• jitvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ji (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having conquered)

• kartavyaḥ: should be made / must be done
• kartavyaḥ: Vidhi/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + tavya (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be done/should be made)

• pṛthivīpatīn: lords of the earth (kings)
• pṛthivīpatīn: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthivī + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—पृथिव्याः पतयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थ (therefore)

• vijetuṃ: to conquer
• vijetuṃ: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ji (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ (in order to conquer)

• bhūpālān: kings / rulers
• bhūpālān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—भूः पालयति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• catvāraḥ: four (persons)
• catvāraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catvāra (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन (Plural)

• api: also / even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• sa-sainikāḥ: with their armies
• sa-sainikāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + sainika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन (Plural); अव्ययीभावः—सैन्येन सह (with troops)

Speaker

Yudhiṣṭhira

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis/assembly (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Yudhiṣṭhira issues the final directive: each brother departs with an army toward a quarter; banners, chariots, and disciplined troops assemble at the city gates.

Characters & Entities

• Bhūpālas (kings)
• Armies (senā)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

For rulers, protecting and unifying the realm is a dharmic duty that precedes and legitimizes grand ritual acts.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it supports the narrative arc within Setukhaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The practical prerequisite for the Rājasūya is reiterated: conquer/subdue the kings (digvijaya) with organized armies.