Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 189

Devanagari script

तस्य तं निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा मरणार्थं महीपतेः । स उलूकः कृपां गत्वा ततो वचनमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

tasya taṃ niścayaṃ jñātvā maraṇārthaṃ mahīpateḥ | sa ulūkaḥ kṛpāṃ gatvā tato vacanamabravīt

Translation

മരിക്കാനുള്ള രാജാവിന്റെ ആ തീരുമാനം അറിഞ്ഞ്, ആ മൂങ്ങ കരുണയോടെ പിന്നീട് ഈ വാക്കുകൾ പറഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• निश्चयम्: decision, resolve
• निश्चयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having learned
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya (Gerundial/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त्वा (ल्यप्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); पूर्वकालिक (having known)

• मरणार्थम्: for death, with intent to die
• मरणार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose of death)

• महीपतेः: of the king
• महीपतेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही-पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; महीपतेः = राज्ञः (king)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• उलूकः: Ulūka (owl)
• उलूकः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उलूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम/पक्षिनाम (owl / named Ulūka)

• कृपाम्: mercy, compassion
• कृपाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; भावार्थ (mercy)

• गत्वा: having gone, having approached
• गत्वा: Kriya (Gerundial/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त्वा (ल्यप्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); पूर्वकालिक (having gone/approached)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थ (then/thereupon)

• वचनम्: speech, words
• वचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; third-person description)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: null

Visual Art Cues

Scene: An owl, personified and wise, approaches a despairing king; the owl’s eyes are large and compassionate, wings slightly open as if to shelter; the king’s posture shows resignation, about to undertake fatal resolve.

Characters & Entities

• Indradyumna (king)
• Ulūka (owl)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Compassionate counsel intervenes when a ruler turns toward despair; dharma protects life through guidance.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this shloka; it is a narrative transition within the Tīrthamāhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse introduces advisory speech prompted by compassion.