Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 19

Devanagari script

इन्द्रियाश्वान्सन्नियम्य सततं सुखमेधते । नरके पात्यते प्राणैस्तैरेवोत्पथगामिभिः

Transliteration

indriyāśvānsanniyamya satataṃ sukhamedhate | narake pātyate prāṇaistairevotpathagāmibhiḥ

Translation

ผู้ใดคอยเหนี่ยวรั้งอินทรีย์ดุจม้าอยู่เนืองนิตย์ ความสุขย่อมเจริญมั่นคง; แต่ด้วยพลังปราณเดียวกันนั้น เมื่อแล่นไปสู่ทางผิด ก็ถูกผลักตกสู่นรก

Word by Word

• indriyāśvān: the sense-horses (senses likened to horses)
• indriyāśvān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indriya + aśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (senses-as-horses)

• sanniyamya: having fully restrained
• sanniyamya: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam + ni + √yam (यम्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having restrained)

• satatam: constantly
• satatam: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• sukham: happily, with ease
• sukham: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• edhate: prospers, thrives
• edhate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √edh (एध्)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• narake: in hell
• narake: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• pātyate: is made to fall, is cast down
• pātyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (पत्) (causative √pātay)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• prāṇaiḥ: by the vital breaths/life-forces
• prāṇaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; करण (instrument/agent in passive)

• taiḥ: by those
• taiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• eva: indeed, only
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• utpathagāmibhiḥ: by those that go on the wrong path
• utpathagāmibhiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: utpatha + gāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (going on a wrong path); विशेषण (of prāṇaiḥ/taiḥ)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narrative style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A yogin holds reins attached to five horse-like senses pulling toward tempting side-roads; a luminous straight path leads to a tīrtha-ghāṭa, while a dark chasm labeled ‘naraka’ opens beside the wrong path.

Characters & Entities

• Indriya (senses)
• Prāṇa
• Naraka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The same inner powers that grant peace when disciplined become causes of downfall when they chase wrongful desires.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No named tīrtha is mentioned; the verse teaches a universal ethical principle supporting tīrtha/vrata observance.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A sustained practice of sense-restraint (like reining horses) is prescribed as the path to well-being and dharmic safety.