Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

अत्यैश्वर्यसमायुक्तो गजवाजिरथान्वितः । जितारिपक्षस्तेजस्वी दाता भोगी जितेंद्रियः

Transliteration

atyaiśvaryasamāyukto gajavājirathānvitaḥ | jitāripakṣastejasvī dātā bhogī jiteṃdriyaḥ

Translation

അദ്ദേഹം അത്യധിക ഐശ്വര്യസമ്പന്നനും ഗജ-വാജി-രഥസമൃദ്ധനുമായിരുന്നു; ശത്രുപക്ഷത്തെ ജയിച്ചവൻ, തേജസ്വി, ദാനശീലൻ, ഭോഗസാമർത്ഥ്യമുള്ളവൻ, ജിതേന്ദ്രിയൻ ആയിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• अत्यैश्वर्यसमायुक्तः: endowed with great prosperity
• अत्यैश्वर्यसमायुक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्-युक्त (युज् धातु + क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अत्यैश्वर्येण समायुक्तः = endowed with great wealth/power)

• गजवाजिरथान्वितः: accompanied by elephants, horses, and chariots
• गजवाजिरथान्वितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + वाजि (प्रातिपदिक) + रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (अन्-इ धातु/अन्वि + क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समाहारः (गज-वाजि-रथैः अन्वितः = accompanied by elephants, horses, chariots)

• जितारिपक्षः: having conquered the enemy faction
• जितारिपक्षः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (जि धातु + क्त कृदन्त) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अरिपक्षः जितः येन/यस्य = whose enemy side is conquered)

• तेजस्वी: splendid, radiant
• तेजस्वी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तेजस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्-प्रत्ययान्त)

• दाता: a giver, donor
• दाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दा (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कर्तरि कृदन्त (agent noun, तृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भोगी: enjoyer, one who enjoys
• भोगी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्-प्रत्ययान्त)

• जितेन्द्रियः: self-controlled (having conquered the senses)
• जितेन्द्रियः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (जि धातु + क्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिवत्-प्रयोगः/तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्रियाणि जितानि यस्य = one who has conquered the senses)

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Brāhmaṇas

Visual Art Cues

Scene: King Vasusena displayed with elephants, horses, and chariots; yet shown calm and restrained, giving gifts to supplicants—an image of controlled power and generosity.

Characters & Entities

• Vasusena

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Prosperity is praised when joined to dāna (charity) and jitendriyatā (self-mastery), presenting kingship as dharma-guided.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named in this verse; it characterizes the protagonist within the broader tīrtha narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implied virtue of dāna (giving), but no specific rite is prescribed here.