Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

अथ देवगणाः सर्वे भयसंत्रस्तमानसाः । शक्रविष्णुमुखा जग्मुर्यत्र देवः पितामहः

Transliteration

atha devagaṇāḥ sarve bhayasaṃtrastamānasāḥ | śakraviṣṇumukhā jagmuryatra devaḥ pitāmahaḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ഭയത്താൽ വിറച്ച മനസ്സുള്ള എല്ലാ ദേവഗണങ്ങളും—ശക്രനും വിഷ്ണുവും മുൻപന്തിയിൽ—ദേവപിതാമഹനായ ബ്രഹ്മാവുള്ളിടത്തേക്ക് ചെന്നു.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connective)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अनुक्रमसूचक (then)

• देवगणाः: hosts of gods
• देवगणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां गणाः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘देवगणाः’ इति विशेषणम्

• भयसंत्रस्तमानसाः: whose minds were terrified by fear
• भयसंत्रस्तमानसाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + संत्रस्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (भयेन संत्रस्तं मानसं येषाम्)

• शक्रविष्णुमुखाः: with Indra and Viṣṇu in front
• शक्रविष्णुमुखाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (शक्र-विष्णू मुखे यस्य/येषाम्) = ‘with Indra and Viṣṇu at the head’

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम्; सम्बन्धबोधक (where)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• पितामहः: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ब्रह्मा (epithet)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A procession of devas led by Indra and Viṣṇu moves swiftly through luminous space toward Brahmā’s radiant seat; their faces show fear tempered by resolve.

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Viṣṇu
• Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• Devagaṇa (gods)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In crisis, even the gods seek higher counsel; Purāṇic dharma emphasizes humility, consultation, and turning toward divine wisdom.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of a tīrtha-māhātmya narrative arc, but no particular location is named in this line.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it narrates the gods’ approach to Brahmā as a prelude to stotra and remedial action.