Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 66

Devanagari script

वज्रबाहुं तत्पितरं समाहूय स नैषधः । पुरं प्रवेश्य सामात्यः प्रत्युद्गम्याभ्यपूजयत्

Transliteration

vajrabāhuṃ tatpitaraṃ samāhūya sa naiṣadhaḥ | puraṃ praveśya sāmātyaḥ pratyudgamyābhyapūjayat

Translation

ਨੈਸ਼ਧ ਰਾਜਾ ਨੇ ਭਦ੍ਰਾਯੁਸ਼ ਦੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਵਜ੍ਰਬਾਹੁ ਨੂੰ ਬੁਲਾ ਲਿਆ; ਮੰਤਰੀਆਂ ਸਮੇਤ ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਨਗਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਲਿਆ ਕੇ ਆਪ ਅੱਗੇ ਵਧ ਕੇ ਸਵਾਗਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਆਦਰ-ਪੂਜਾ ਕੀਤੀ।

Word by Word

• वज्रबाहुम्: Vajrabāhu (one with thunderbolt-like arms)
• वज्रबाहुम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र-बाहु (वज्र प्रातिपदिक + बाहु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वज्र इव बाहुः यस्य/वज्रबाहुः)

• तत्: that (his)
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘पितरम्’ विशेषणम्

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• समाहूय: having called/summoned
• समाहूय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ह्वा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having summoned/called’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नैषधः: the Naiṣadha (king of Niṣadha)
• नैषधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैषध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; जनपद/वंशनाम-सम्बन्धी

• पुरम्: the city
• पुरम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रवेश्य: having brought (him) into / having entered (into)
• प्रवेश्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having led/caused to enter’ (causative sense possible contextually)

• सामात्यः: together with ministers
• सामात्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-अमात्य (अमात्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/सहसमासः (अमात्यैः सह)

• प्रत्युद्गम्य: having gone forth to استقبال/meet
• प्रत्युद्गम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उद्-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having gone out to meet’

• अभ्यपूजयत्: honoured, worshipped
• अभ्यपूजयत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (contextual; likely Sūta-style narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: City gates open; the Naiṣadha king with ministers proceeds outward to greet Vajrabāhu; ceremonial umbrellas, banners, drums; respectful gestures and offerings as the guest is escorted into the city.

Characters & Entities

• Vajrabāhu
• Naiṣadha (king of Niṣadha)
• Bhadrāyuṣa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Honoring elders and guests is dharma; respectful reception (pratyudgama) reflects inner humility and righteous kingship.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse depicts civic and royal hospitality.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A dharmic protocol is implied: going out to receive a respected guest and offering honor (pūjā).