Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

शापाहतो वेपमान इन्द्रस्य चरणौ शुभौ । प्रपीड्य मूर्ध्ना देवेशं विज्ञापयति भारत

Transliteration

śāpāhato vepamāna indrasya caraṇau śubhau | prapīḍya mūrdhnā deveśaṃ vijñāpayati bhārata

Translation

शापाहतः स वेपमानः शुभौ इन्द्रचरणौ मूर्ध्ना प्रपीड्य। देवेशं विज्ञापयामास, हे भारत॥

Word by Word

• śāpāhataḥ: struck by a curse
• śāpāhataḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāpa-āhata (कृदन्त; शाप + √han + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (वेपमानः/सः)

• vepamānaḥ: trembling
• vepamānaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vep (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle active), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• indrasya: of Indra
• indrasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• caraṇau: feet (two)
• caraṇau: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• śubhau: auspicious
• śubhau: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन; विशेषण (चरणौ)

• prapīḍya: having pressed
• prapīḍya: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√pīḍ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• mūrdhnā: with (his) head
• mūrdhnā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• deveśam: the lord of the gods
• deveśam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva-īśa (प्रातिपदिक; देव + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• vijñāpayati: informs/beseeches
• vijñāpayati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√jñap (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• bhārata: O Bhārata
• bhārata: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhārata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya (narrator)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Bhārata

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A trembling figure bows deeply, head pressed to Indra’s feet; Indra stands or sits enthroned, calm and radiant, with attendants and a hint of the vajra emblem.

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Deveśa (lord of gods)
• Bhārata (address to Yudhiṣṭhira)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In suffering born of karma, humility and refuge at the feet of the divine authority is portrayed as the proper dharmic response.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

None explicitly; the verse is part of the prelude to the tīrtha’s greatness.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal rite; an act of reverent prostration and petition is described.