Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 51

Devanagari script

पितर ऊचुः । पितरो मानवा ह्येते स्वर्गं प्राप्ताः स्वकर्मभिः । देवानां मध्यसंस्थाश्च पीड्यंते क्षुत्पिपासया

Transliteration

pitara ūcuḥ | pitaro mānavā hyete svargaṃ prāptāḥ svakarmabhiḥ | devānāṃ madhyasaṃsthāśca pīḍyaṃte kṣutpipāsayā

Translation

เหล่าปิตฤกล่าวว่า: “คนเหล่านี้แท้จริงคือบรรพชนของมนุษย์ ด้วยกรรมของตนจึงได้ถึงสวรรค์; แต่แม้อยู่ท่ามกลางหมู่เทวะ ก็ยังถูกรบกวนด้วยความหิวและกระหาย”

Word by Word

• पितरः: the Pitṛs
• पितरः: कर्ता (speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• पितरः: (as for) the Pitṛs
• पितरः: कर्ता (topic/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विषय-निर्देशः

• मानवाः: humans
• मानवाः: कर्ता (coordinated subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्धक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः (indeed/for)

• एते: these
• एते: कर्ता (demonstrative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; निर्देशार्थकः

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: कर्म/गन्तव्य (goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; गत्यर्थे द्वितीया

• प्राप्ताः: have attained
• प्राप्ताः: क्रिया (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गे; भूतकृदन्तः (क्त/PPP) — ‘have attained’

• स्व-कर्मभिः: by their own deeds
• स्व-कर्मभिः: करण/हेतु (means/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (स्वं कर्म)

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (of the gods)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• मध्य-संस्थाः: situated in the midst (among them)
• मध्य-संस्थाः: कर्ता (subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (मध्यं संस्थिताः)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयबोधकः

• पीड्यन्ते: are afflicted/tormented
• पीड्यन्ते: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पीड् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (are afflicted)

• क्षुत्-पिपासया: by hunger and thirst
• क्षुत्-पिपासया: करण (Instrument/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पिपासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (क्षुत् च पिपासा च)

Speaker

Pitṛs (ancestors)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Brahmā

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Pitṛs explain: these are human ancestors in svarga yet suffering hunger and thirst among the gods; depict a poignant contrast—devas radiant and satisfied, ancestors subdued and yearning.

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs (ancestors)
• Devas (gods)
• Svarga (heaven)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Even attainment of heavenly realms does not remove dependence on dharmic support from descendants; pitṛ-sustenance is tied to prescribed offerings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is part of a tīrtha-māhātmya chapter but does not specify a named location in this line; it emphasizes the universal pitṛ-principle often enacted at tīrthas.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implied need for pitṛ offerings (kavya/śrāddha, tarpaṇa) to relieve hunger and thirst; details are expanded in subsequent verses.