Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

पाहि पाहि महाराज हा राजन्करुणानिधे । एष धावति शार्दूलो जग्धुमावां महारयः

Transliteration

pāhi pāhi mahārāja hā rājankaruṇānidhe | eṣa dhāvati śārdūlo jagdhumāvāṃ mahārayaḥ

Translation

“โปรดคุ้มครองเถิด โปรดคุ้มครองเถิด มหาราชา! ข้าแต่พระราชาผู้เป็นขุมทรัพย์แห่งกรุณา เสือโคร่งนี้กำลังพุ่งมาด้วยความเร็วอันน่าสะพรึง เพื่อจะขย้ำกินพวกข้าพระองค์!”

Word by Word

• पाहि: protect!
• पाहि: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• पाहि: protect!
• पाहि: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (पुनरुक्ति for urgency)

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचनम्

• हा: alas!
• हा: Sambandha (Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विस्मय/शोकसूचक उद्गार (interjection)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचनम्

• करुणानिधे: O treasure of compassion
• करुणानिधे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करुणा-निधि (प्रातिपदिक; करुणा=compassion, निधि=treasure)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचनम्

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• धावति: runs
• धावति: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• शार्दूलः: tiger
• शार्दूलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• जग्धुम्: to devour
• जग्धुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष्/जघस् (धातु) → जग्धुम् (तुमुन्-प्रत्यय, infinitive)
• Form: तुमुनन्तम् (infinitive); क्रियार्थे (to eat)

• आवाम्: us two
• आवाम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• महारयः: the mighty one (swift/strong)
• महारयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-रयि (प्रातिपदिक; रयि=wealth/force; here as epithet)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्; पदपाठे 'महारयः' इति रूपम्—विशेषणवत् शार्दूलस्य

Speaker

Brāhmaṇa couple (in distress, addressing the king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The brāhmaṇa couple, terrified, calls out repeatedly to the king, praising him as a treasury of compassion while the tiger charges behind them.

Characters & Entities

• king
• brāhmaṇa couple
• tiger (śārdūla/vyāghra)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Seeking refuge (śaraṇāgati) is sacred, and the powerful are obligated by dharma to respond with protection and compassion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No holy site is explicitly mentioned in this appeal; the emphasis is on dharma in action.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse is a plea for immediate rescue.