Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

नागराणां द्विजेद्राणां यथान्यः प्राकृतस्तथा

Transliteration

nāgarāṇāṃ dvijedrāṇāṃ yathānyaḥ prākṛtastathā

Translation

“ନାଗର ଓ ଦ୍ୱିଜଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ସେ ଅନ୍ୟ ସାଧାରଣ ଲୋକ ପରି ହିଁ ଗଣ୍ୟ ହେବ—କୌଣସି ଭେଦ ରହିବ ନାହିଁ।”

Word by Word

• नागराणाम्: of the citizens
• नागराणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• द्विजेद्राणाम्: of the chiefs among the twice-born
• द्विजेद्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘द्विजानाम् इन्द्राः’ (lords among the twice-born)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/just as)

• अन्यः: another person
• अन्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्राकृतः: common/ordinary
• प्राकृतः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Correlative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तथैव (so/likewise)

Speaker

Nāgaras (collective speakers within Sūta’s narration)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya sages (standard frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The council declares the offender will be treated like any ordinary person; visual emphasis on removal of insignia—seat, garland, or honor—signifying loss of privileged standing.

Characters & Entities

• Nāgaras
• Dvijedras (foremost dvijas)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Honor in dharma is conduct-based; when conduct falls, social and religious esteem is withdrawn.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The ethical ruling is embedded in the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra-māhātmya narrative, reflecting the kṣetra’s dharmic governance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it states a social consequence—being treated as prākṛta (ordinary) among Nāgaras and dvija leaders.