Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

यथा दंष्ट्राच्युतः सर्पो नागो वा मदवर्जितः । आज्ञाहीनस्तथा राजा मानवैः परिभूयते

Transliteration

yathā daṃṣṭrācyutaḥ sarpo nāgo vā madavarjitaḥ | ājñāhīnastathā rājā mānavaiḥ paribhūyate

Translation

Seperti ular yang tercabut taringnya, atau gajah yang hilang madanya, akan dipandang remeh; demikian juga raja yang tiada wibawa perintah akan dihina manusia.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamāna-marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• दंष्ट्रा: by/with the fangs
• दंष्ट्रा: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• च्युतः: fallen off/removed
• च्युतः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √च्यु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सर्पः: a snake
• सर्पः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• नागः: an elephant
• नागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (Disjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• मदवर्जितः: devoid of rut/intoxication
• मदवर्जितः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद-वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; मदेन वर्जितः इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (devoid of rut/intoxication)

• आज्ञाहीनः: lacking authority/command
• आज्ञाहीनः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आज्ञा-हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; आज्ञया हीनः इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Upamāna-correlative
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तथैव/एवमेव (so/likewise)

• राजा: a king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• मानवैः: by men/people
• मानवैः: Karta (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• परिभूयते: is overpowered/treated with contempt
• परिभूयते: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive sense: is overpowered/insulted)

Speaker

Dūta (contextual; proverbial admonition)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Didactic tableau: a fangless snake recoils harmlessly; a great elephant without must stands subdued; in the background, a king without insignia of authority is ignored by commoners—visualizing the simile.

Characters & Entities

• Rājā (King)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Rājadharma requires effective authority; without rightful command, social order collapses and the ruler is dishonored.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is named; the verse offers a dharmic-political maxim within the chapter’s narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None.