Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 42

Devanagari script

नागैश्चासुरसंघैश्च सेव्यमानो महेंद्रवत् । सुरद्रुमो जितस्तेन कामधे नुर्मणिस्तथा

Transliteration

nāgaiścāsurasaṃghaiśca sevyamāno maheṃdravat | suradrumo jitastena kāmadhe nurmaṇistathā

Translation

നാഗന്മാരാലും അസുരസംഘങ്ങളാലും മഹേന്ദ്രനെപ്പോലെ സേവിക്കപ്പെട്ട്, അവൻ സുരദ്രുമം (കൽപവൃക്ഷം) ജയിച്ചു സ്വന്തമാക്കി; അതുപോലെ കാമധേനുവിനെയും ഇഷ്ടപ്രദ മണിയെയും ലഭിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• नागैः: by nāgas
• नागैः: Karaṇa (Agent/Instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• असुरसंघैः: by hosts of asuras
• असुरसंघैः: Karaṇa (Agent/Instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर + संघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: असुराणां संघाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• सेव्यमानः: being served
• सेव्यमानः: Karta (Subject complement to implied Bali)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु) → सेव्यमान (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘being served’

• महेंद्रवत्: like Mahendra (Indra)
• महेंद्रवत्: Upamāna (Comparative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: महेंद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative adverb: ‘like Mahendra’)

• सुरद्रुमः: the divine tree
• सुरद्रुमः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सुराणां द्रुमः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जितः: was won
• जितः: Kriyā (Predicate, passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु) → जित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘won/conquered’

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karaṇa (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कामधेनुः: Kāmadhenū
• कामधेनुः: Karta (Subject, coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामधेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: कामान् धेनुः/कामस्य धेनुः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मणिः: the jewel
• मणिः: Karta (Subject, coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Samuccaya/Adverbial
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (also/likewise)

Speaker

Lomaśa (deduced)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Bali surrounded by Nāgas and asura hosts; behind him the Kalpavṛkṣa laden with blossoms and jewels; Cintāmaṇi radiance in his hand; Kāmadhenu nearby with a gentle, luminous presence.

Characters & Entities

• Nāga
• Asura
• Mahendra (Indra)
• Sura-druma (celestial tree)
• Kāmadhenu
• Maṇi (wish-granting jewel)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Mythic treasures symbolize the height of worldly attainment; Purāṇic dharma reminds that such boons are secondary to devotion and right conduct.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No earthly tīrtha is named; the verse depicts celestial wealth as part of the Kedāra-khaṇḍa narrative frame.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse lists divine possessions and royal attendance.