Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच । अमी ममैव सुहृदो मार्कंडबककौशिकाः । गृध्रकूर्मौ प्रभावोऽयममीषां मम वृद्धये

Transliteration

iṃdradyumna uvāca | amī mamaiva suhṛdo mārkaṃḍabakakauśikāḥ | gṛdhrakūrmau prabhāvo'yamamīṣāṃ mama vṛddhaye

Translation

ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଦ୍ୟୁମ୍ନ କହିଲେ—ଏମାନେ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ମୋର ସୁହୃଦ: ମାର୍କଣ୍ଡ, ବକ ଓ କୌଶିକ। ଗୃଧ୍ର ଓ କୂର୍ମର ଏହି ଅଦ୍ଭୁତ ପ୍ରଭାବ ତାଙ୍କର ବୃଦ୍ଧି ଏବଂ ମୋର ଉନ୍ନତିକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ସାଧିଲା।

Word by Word

• iṃdradyumnaḥ: Indradyumna
• iṃdradyumnaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṃdradyumna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (उवाच इत्यस्य कर्ता)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• amī: these (people)
• amī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'these (yonder)'

• mama: of me / my
• mama: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात — अवधारण (only/indeed)

• suhṛdaḥ: friends, well-wishers
• suhṛdaḥ: Karta (Apposition to amī/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suhṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (सुहृद्-शब्दः)

• mārkaṇḍa-baka-kauśikāḥ: Mārkaṇḍa, Baka, and Kauśika
• mārkaṇḍa-baka-kauśikāḥ: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārkaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक/नाम) + baka (प्रातिपदिक) + kauśika (प्रातिपदिक/नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (तीन नामानि)

• gṛdhra-kūrmau: the vulture and the tortoise
• gṛdhra-kūrmau: Karta (Subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक) + kūrma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः (vulture and tortoise)

• prabhāvaḥ: power, influence
• prabhāvaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ayam: this
• ayam: Viśeṣaṇa (Demonstrative/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• amīṣām: of these (ones)
• amīṣām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; 'of these'

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन

• vṛddhaye: for (my) increase/prosperity
• vṛddhaye: Sampradana (Purpose/recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

Speaker

Indradyumna

Visual Art Cues

Scene: King Indradyumna, hands folded, addresses sages (Mārkaṇḍa, Baka, Kauśika) while a vulture and a tortoise appear nearby, radiating a subtle miraculous aura; attendants and forest-hermitage setting suggest a sacred narrative moment.

Characters & Entities

• Indradyumna
• Mārkaṇḍa
• Baka
• Kauśika
• Gṛdhra (vulture)
• Kūrma (tortoise)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Recognizing benefactors and honoring true well-wishers is itself a dharmic virtue, strengthening one’s spiritual progress.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; the focus is on relationships of dharma and gratitude.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is prescribed; it is a narrative reflection on the beneficial power (prabhāva) of dharmic companionship and aid.