Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

सर्वैस्तैः शबरैः सार्धं पुलिन्दैर्मेदकैस्तथा । बद्धगोधांगुलित्राणैर्वरबाणधनुर्धरैः

Transliteration

sarvaistaiḥ śabaraiḥ sārdhaṃ pulindairmedakaistathā | baddhagodhāṃgulitrāṇairvarabāṇadhanurdharaiḥ

Translation

ആ എല്ലാ ശബരന്മാരോടൊപ്പം, പുളിന്ദന്മാരും മേദകന്മാരും കൂടി—ശ്രേഷ്ഠമായ വില്ലും അമ്പും ധരിച്ചവർ, ഗോധാ-ചർമ്മംകൊണ്ട് കെട്ടിയ അങ്കുലിത്രാണം (വിരൽ-രക്ഷ) ഉള്ളവർ।

Word by Word

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: Saha (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (सह/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (शबरैः इत्यादीनाम्)

• तैः: with those
• तैः: Saha (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (सह/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (शबरैः)

• शबरैः: with Śabaras (tribesmen)
• शबरैः: Saha (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शबर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (सह/करण), बहुवचन

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: Saha (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक (with/together with)

• पुलिन्दैः: with Pulindas
• पुलिन्दैः: Saha (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलिन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (सह/करण), बहुवचन

• मेदकैः: with Medakas
• मेदकैः: Saha (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (सह/करण), बहुवचन

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (also/and likewise)

• बद्धगोधा-अङ्गुलित्राणैः: with (those) having bound iguana-skin finger-guards
• बद्धगोधा-अङ्गुलित्राणैः: Saha (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + गोधा (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुलित्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (सह/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (…धरैः); समासः—(गोधा-अङ्गुलित्राण) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गोधायाः अङ्गुलित्राणम्) + बद्ध इति कर्मधारय/उपपद-सम्बन्धः (बद्धानि …)

• वरबाणधनुर्धरैः: with bowmen bearing excellent arrows and bows
• वरबाणधनुर्धरैः: Saha (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (सह/करण), बहुवचन; समासः—(वरबाण) कर्मधारयः (श्रेष्ठाः बाणाः) + (धनुर्धर) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धनुषः धरः) + समाहारः तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला; विशेषणवत् (योधाः)

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta, continuing)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sage-assembly audience

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A marching band of archers from forest tribes: Śabaras, Pulindas, Medakas with bows strung, quivers full, iguana-hide finger-guards tied on; dust rising on a forest path, leaders at front, weapons gleaming.

Characters & Entities

• Śabaras
• Pulindas
• Medakas
• Archers (bow-bearers)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It situates dharma-narrative within lived geography and communities, showing how Purāṇas weave sacred history with peoples and regions.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not specified in this verse; it is a descriptive narrative passage within the Tīrthamāhātmya chapter.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse describes accompanying groups and martial equipment.