Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 81

Devanagari script

ततः प्रोवाच हृष्टात्मा विनयावनतः स्थितः । स्वयमेव सहस्राक्षं प्रणिपत्य मुहुर्मुहुः

Transliteration

tataḥ provāca hṛṣṭātmā vinayāvanataḥ sthitaḥ | svayameva sahasrākṣaṃ praṇipatya muhurmuhuḥ

Translation

ତେବେ ହୃଷ୍ଟଚିତ୍ତ ହୋଇ, ବିନୟରେ ନମ୍ରଭାବେ ଦଣ୍ଡାୟମାନ ରହି, ସେ ନିଜେ ସହସ୍ରାକ୍ଷ (ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର)ଙ୍କୁ ପୁନଃପୁନଃ ପ୍ରଣାମ କରି କହିଲା।

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = 'thereupon/then'

• प्रोवाच: said, spoke forth
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हृष्टात्मा: the delighted-souled one
• हृष्टात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृष्ट-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेष्य-भावः (one whose self is delighted)

• विनयावनतः: bowed in humility
• विनयावनतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय-अवनत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विनयेन अवनतः = 'bowed with humility'

• स्थितः: standing
• स्थितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'standing/remaining'

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta (Agent-emphasis/कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = 'oneself'

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) = अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• सहस्राक्षम्: Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• सहस्राक्षम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र-अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः = 'one who has a thousand eyes' (Indra)

• प्रणिपत्य: having prostrated
• प्रणिपत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-नि-√पत् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (क्त्वान्त/absolutive) = 'having bowed down'

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• मुहुः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = 'again and again'

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (पुनरुक्ति) = 'again and again'

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narrator within Nāgara Khaṇḍa)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A radiant Indra (Sahasrākṣa) is approached by a humble figure standing with folded hands, repeatedly prostrating; devas observe in a solemn yet hopeful atmosphere.

Characters & Entities

• Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• Dadhīci (implied sage)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Greatness is marked by humility; even a powerful sage maintains vinaya while engaging in world-affecting deeds.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative remains situated at Puṣkara (Prācī Sarasvatī-tīra) from the immediately preceding context.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal ritual is prescribed; it highlights repeated praṇāma (prostration) as devotional etiquette.