Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

ततस्तु कौतुकं दृष्ट्वा विश्वामित्रो महीपतिः । सामात्यो विस्म याविष्टो मन्त्रयामास च द्विजाः

Transliteration

tatastu kautukaṃ dṛṣṭvā viśvāmitro mahīpatiḥ | sāmātyo visma yāviṣṭo mantrayāmāsa ca dvijāḥ

Translation

பின்னர் அந்த அதிசயக் காட்சியைப் பார்த்து, அமைச்சர்களுடன் இருந்த விசுவாமித்திர அரசன் வியப்பில் ஆழ்ந்து, பிராமணர்களுடன் ஆலோசனை செய்தான்।

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• तु: but
• तु: Nipata (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेष (but/indeed)

• कौतुकम्: the marvel / wonder
• कौतुकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौतुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययकृदन्त), पूर्वकाल; Absolutive (having seen)

• विश्वामित्रः: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; Nominative singular; समासः तत्पुरुष (विश्व-आमित्र/विश्व-मित्र)

• महीपतिः: the king
• महीपतिः: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; Nominative singular; समासः तत्पुरुष

• सामात्यः: together with his ministers
• सामात्यः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अमात्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; समासः तत्पुरुष (with ministers)

• विस्मयाविष्टः: overcome with astonishment
• विस्मयाविष्टः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मय + आविष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √विश् धातु से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; समासः तत्पुरुष (विस्मयेन आविष्टः)

• मन्त्रयामास: consulted / deliberated
• मन्त्रयामास: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Perfect 3rd sg; आत्मनेपद (मन्त्रयते)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• द्विजाः: the Brahmins
• द्विजाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन; Accusative plural (object of मन्त्रयामास)

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and ṛṣis (frame implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: King Viśvāmitra, ministers at his side, gaze at the completed miracle; their faces show astonishment. He turns toward seated brāhmaṇas for counsel, hands joined or in inquiry posture.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• ministers (āmātya)
• dvija (brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even kings should respond to the sacred with humility—seeking counsel from learned brāhmaṇas when confronting dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it functions as narrative within the Tīrthamāhātmya section.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it highlights dharmic decision-making through consultation (mantra).