Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

इति गौतमशापेन सिंहत्वमगमत्पुरा । कुबेरसचिवो यक्षो भद्रनामा भवान्पुरा

Transliteration

iti gautamaśāpena siṃhatvamagamatpurā | kuberasacivo yakṣo bhadranāmā bhavānpurā

Translation

ดังนี้ ด้วยคำสาปของพระฤๅษีโคตมะ ท่านจึงเคยถึงสภาพเป็นสิงห์มาแต่ก่อน กาลก่อนท่านเป็นยักษ์—เสนาบดีของท้าวกุเวร—นามว่า ภัทร

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• गौतमशापेन: by Gautama's curse
• गौतमशापेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम (प्रातिपदिक) + शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: गौतमस्य शापः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• सिंहत्वम्: lionhood
• सिंहत्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित) → सिंहत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• अगमत्: went to; attained
• अगमत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kala (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly)

• कुबेरसचिवः: Kubera's minister
• कुबेरसचिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुबेर (प्रातिपदिक) + सचिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: कुबेरस्य सचिवः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यक्षः: a Yaksha
• यक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भद्रनामा: named Bhadra
• भद्रनामा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (यस्य नाम भद्रः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भवान्: you (sir)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/आदरार्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; आदरार्थ-प्रयोग (honorific 'you')

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kala (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual Purāṇic narrator within Setukhaṇḍa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Setu-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Inquirer audience (implicit)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Narration reveals the lion’s former identity: a dignified yakṣa courtier named Bhadra in Kubera’s jeweled hall, contrasted with his present lion body in the forest.

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Kubera
• Yakṣa
• Bhadra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even exalted beings (Yakṣas serving Kubera) are bound by dharma and can fall through a curse, highlighting moral accountability.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The setting is within Setukhaṇḍa (Setu-kṣetra tradition); the verse itself identifies the character’s former status rather than praising a specific spot.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it provides identity and backstory.