Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 16
Devanagari script
एवं विनाश्य नगरीं हृत्वा स्त्रीगोधनादिकम् । वज्रबाहुं बलाद्बद्ध्वा रथे स्थाप्य विनिर्ययुः
Transliteration
evaṃ vināśya nagarīṃ hṛtvā strīgodhanādikam | vajrabāhuṃ balādbaddhvā rathe sthāpya viniryayuḥ
Translation
ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਗਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਉਜਾੜ ਕੇ, ਇਸਤ੍ਰੀਆਂ, ਗੋਧਨ ਆਦਿਕ ਲੁੱਟ ਕੇ, ਵਜ੍ਰਬਾਹੁ ਨੂੰ ਬਲਪੂਰਵਕ ਬੰਨ੍ਹਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਰਥ ਉੱਤੇ ਚੜ੍ਹਾ ਕੇ ਨਿਕਲ ਗਏ।
Word by Word
एवम्thus
एवम्:
Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम् (अव्यय)
Formप्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus')
विनाश्यhaving destroyed
विनाश्य:
Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवि + नश् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), 'having destroyed'
नगरिम्the city
नगरिम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootनगरी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — 'city'
हृत्वाhaving seized/robbed
हृत्वा:
Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootहृ (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), 'having taken/robbed'
स्त्रीगोधनादिकम्women, cattle-wealth, and the like
स्त्रीगोधनादिकम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootस्त्री + गो-धन + आदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; स्त्री च गोधनं च इत्यादि (collection 'women, cattle-wealth, etc.')
वज्रबाहुम्Vajrabāhu (the one with thunderbolt-like arms)
वज्रबाहुम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवज्र + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; वज्र इव बाहुः यस्य (name/epithet)
बलात्by force
बलात्:
Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootबल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन — 'by force/forcibly' (ablative of cause/manner)
बद्ध्वाhaving bound
बद्ध्वा:
Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootबन्ध् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), 'having bound'
रथेon the chariot
रथे:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन — 'in/on the chariot'
स्थाप्यhaving placed
स्थाप्य:
Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootस्था (धातु)
Formणिच्-प्रत्ययान्त causative base (स्थापय-), क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष अव्यय/ल्यप् (gerund), 'having placed'
विनिर्ययुःthey departed
विनिर्ययुः:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवि + निर् + या (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन — 'they went out/departed'
Speaker
Narrator (Purāṇic voice, traditionally Sūta)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: The city lies ravaged; women and cattle are driven away; King Vajrabāhu is bound, forced onto a chariot, and the raiders depart in a dust cloud.
Characters & Entities
V
VajrabāhuN
Nagarī (city)FAQs
Unchecked force leads to ruin for societies; the narrative sets the stage for dharmic restoration through rightful response.
No specific sacred site is praised in this verse.
None.