Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

ततो भीष्मेण प्रोक्तां च नरैः श्रुत्वा युधिष्ठिरः । रथातिरथसंख्यां तु राज्ञां मध्ये वचोऽब्रवीत्

Transliteration

tato bhīṣmeṇa proktāṃ ca naraiḥ śrutvā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | rathātirathasaṃkhyāṃ tu rājñāṃ madhye vaco'bravīt

Translation

അപ്പോൾ മനുഷ്യരിൽ നിന്ന് ഭീഷ്മൻ പ്രസ്താവിച്ച രഥ-അതിരഥരുടെ എണ്ണമെന്ന വാക്ക് കേട്ട് യുധിഷ്ഠിരൻ രാജാക്കന്മാരുടെ മദ്ധ്യേ ഒരു വചനം പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/अनन्तरबोधक अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• भीष्मेण: by Bhīṣma
• भीष्मेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• प्रोक्ताम्: spoken (statement)
• प्रोक्ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-उच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular); कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘said/spoken’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• नरैः: by men / by the people
• नरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having heard)

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• रथातिरथसंख्याम्: the count of chariot-warriors and great chariot-warriors
• रथातिरथसंख्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ + अतिरथ + संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular); समासः—रथानां च अतिरथानां च संख्या (समाहार/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषबोधक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• राज्ञाम्: of kings
• राज्ञाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular)

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd person singular)

Speaker

Sūta (contextual continuation)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kurukṣetra

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A council-like moment amid the encamped kings: Yudhiṣṭhira stands or sits poised, listening to reports of Bhīṣma’s classifications; surrounding rājās attentive; banners and chariots in the background.

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Bhīṣma
• Kings (rājānaḥ)
• Ratha
• Atiratha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma-guided leadership listens, assesses strength and responsibility, and then speaks for the common good.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None directly; the setting remains the war-council context connected to Kurukṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse concerns military classification and deliberation.