Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

एवं तस्य महीपस्य राज्यस्थस्य जडात्मनः । बालत्वे वर्तमानस्य राज्यं विप्लवमध्यगात्

Transliteration

evaṃ tasya mahīpasya rājyasthasya jaḍātmanaḥ | bālatve vartamānasya rājyaṃ viplavamadhyagāt

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ആ രാജാവ് രാജസ്ഥാനത്തിൽ ഇരുന്നിട്ടും, ജഡബുദ്ധിയോടെയും ബാല്യാവസ്ഥയിലുമായിരുന്നതിനാൽ രാജ്യം കലഹവും അക്രമവും നിറഞ്ഞ വിപ്ലവാവസ്ഥയിൽ അകപ്പെട്ടു.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• महीपस्य: of the king
• महीपस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• राज्यस्थस्य: of (him) who was established in the kingdom
• राज्यस्थस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज्य+स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: राज्ये स्थितः; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण (of महीपस्य)

• जडात्मनः: of dull-minded (one)
• जडात्मनः: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जड+आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: जडः आत्मा यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण

• बालत्वे: in childhood
• बालत्वे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• वर्तमानस्य: of (him) being (still)
• वर्तमानस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वृत् (धातु) → वर्तमान (कृदन्त, शतृ/वर्तमानकालिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक-कर्तरि कृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण (of महीपस्य)

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (subject of ‘अगात्’)

• विप्लवम्: turmoil, upheaval
• विप्लवम्: Karma (goal within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपद (in compound)

• मध्यगात्: entered, came into
• मध्यगात्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मध्य+√गम् (धातु) → मध्यगत (कृदन्त) / alternatively √गम् लुङ्
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘मध्य’ उपसर्गवत्/पूर्वपद-सम्बन्ध (entered into the middle)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator within Nāgarakhaṇḍa context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A troubled kingdom: factions, anxious citizens, ministers overwhelmed; the child-king sits silent, symbolizing governance without voice/agency.

Characters & Entities

• kingdom
• child-king

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A ruler’s incapacity destabilizes society; dharma demands corrective action through wise guidance and sacred means.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This verse is preparatory; the glorification centers on Sārasvata Tīrtha in Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra, introduced soon after.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse.