Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 37

Devanagari script

यक्षणामभिजातानां भग्नं प्रववृते रणात् । मर्तुं संग्राम शिरसि युक्तं नो भूषणाय तत्

Transliteration

yakṣaṇāmabhijātānāṃ bhagnaṃ pravavṛte raṇāt | martuṃ saṃgrāma śirasi yuktaṃ no bhūṣaṇāya tat

Translation

“कुलीन यक्षांना रणातून पराभूत होऊन माघार घेणे शोभत नाही. संग्रामाच्या अग्रभागी मरणेच योग्य—भूषण नव्हे, हाच आमचा खरा मान।”

Word by Word

• यक्षाणाम्: of the Yakṣas
• यक्षाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th) बहुवचनम् (genitive plural)

• अभिजातानाम्: of the noble-born
• अभिजातानाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + जात (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √जन्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘अभिजात’ = well-born/noble; पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् यक्षाणाम्

• भग्नम्: the rout; the breaking (of ranks)
• भग्नम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भग्न (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √भञ्ज्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘भग्न’ = broken/defeat; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st) एकवचनम्; कर्तृस्थानीयं (as subject: ‘the breaking/defeat’)

• प्रववृते: occurred; set in
• प्रववृते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत) 3rd पुरुषः एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• रणात्: from the battle
• रणात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी (5th) एकवचनम् (ablative singular)

• मर्तुम्: to die
• मर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (infinitive) = to die

• संग्राम: of battle
• संग्राम: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी (6th) एकवचनम् (genitive singular) — ‘of battle’ (used with शिरसि)

• शिरसि: on the head; at the forefront
• शिरसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th) एकवचनम् (locative singular)

• युक्तम्: proper; fitting
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (Predicate qualifier/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √युज्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘युक्त’ = fitting/proper; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम् (predicate)

• नः: for us; our
• नः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th) बहुवचनम् (genitive plural) = our

• भूषणाय: for ornament; as an adornment
• भूषणाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी) एकवचनम् (dative singular)

• तत्: that (thing)
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (nom./acc. singular)

Speaker

Yakṣas (collective resolve; narrated by Sūta)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Yakṣa leader addresses his companions near the fallen crown, rejecting ornament and proclaiming death at the battle-front as true honor; warriors tighten grips on weapons.

Characters & Entities

• Yakṣas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Svadharma (one’s rightful duty) requires courage and steadfastness; true honor lies in righteous resolve, not external display.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced; the focus is on dharma and martial duty within the narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a declaration of duty and honor.