Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

ततो ऽहं लज्जया नष्टा दृष्ट्वा श्वशुरसंगमान् । येन भुक्तानि भोज्यानि पुरा मृष्टान्यनेकशः

Transliteration

tato 'haṃ lajjayā naṣṭā dṛṣṭvā śvaśurasaṃgamān | yena bhuktāni bhojyāni purā mṛṣṭānyanekaśaḥ

Translation

ततः श्वशुरसंगमान् दृष्ट्वा लज्जया अहं नष्टा। येन पुरा मृष्टानि भोज्यानि अनेकशः भुक्तानि, तान् दृष्ट्वा मम लज्जा समभवत्।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (Temporal/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (then/from there)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• lajjayā: out of shame
• lajjayā: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lajjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• naṣṭā: was lost/vanished
• naṣṭā: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: naś (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), पूर्वकालिक

• śvaśura-saṃgamān: meetings/contacts with the father-in-law
• śvaśura-saṃgamān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvaśura (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (śvaśurasya saṃgamāḥ)

• yena: by which / whereby
• yena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• bhuktāni: eaten
• bhuktāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• bhojyāni: foods to be eaten / dishes
• bhojyāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhojya (प्रातिपदिक; √bhuj)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• purā: formerly
• purā: Sambandha (Temporal/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly)

• mṛṣṭāni: delicious/dainty, well-prepared
• mṛṣṭāni: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; √mṛj)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• anekaśaḥ: many times
• anekaśaḥ: Sambandha (Frequency/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anekaśaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/आवृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (many times, repeatedly)

Speaker

Unspecified female speaker within the narrative (context suggests Sītā speaking to Rāma)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Raghusattama/Raghūttama

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The speaker turns away, face lowered, overwhelmed by shame; in the background stand dignified elder figures (father-in-law and seniors), while memories of past feasts are symbolized by offering trays now appearing as burdens of obligation.

Characters & Entities

• śvaśura (father-in-law)
• elders/ancestors
• food (bhojya)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

It highlights modesty and social-dharmic sensitivity when confronted with revered elders, especially within a sacred setting.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader chapter is a tīrtha-māhātmya, but the exact site is not identified in this excerpt.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No ritual is prescribed; the verse conveys an emotional-dharmic response within the sacred narrative.