Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

सिद्धा यक्षाः पिशाचाश्च चारणाश्चारणैः सह । आदित्या गुह्यकाश्चैव सा ध्याश्च वसवोऽश्विनौ

Transliteration

siddhā yakṣāḥ piśācāśca cāraṇāścāraṇaiḥ saha | ādityā guhyakāścaiva sā dhyāśca vasavo'śvinau

Translation

เหล่าสิทธะ ยักษะ และปีศาจ; เหล่าจารณะพร้อมหมู่จารณะของตน; ทั้งอาทิตยะ คุหยะกะ สาธยะ วสุ และอัศวินทั้งสองก็มา

Word by Word

• सिद्धाः: Siddhas
• सिद्धाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• यक्षाः: Yakṣas
• यक्षाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• पिशाचाः: Piśācas
• पिशाचाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• चारणाः: Cāraṇas
• चारणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• चारणैः: with Cāraṇas
• चारणैः: Sahakaraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचनम्

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक-अव्ययम् (preposition/adverb: with)

• आदित्याः: Ādityas
• आदित्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• गुह्यकाः: Guhyakas
• गुह्यकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम्

• साध्याः: Sādhyas
• साध्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• वसवः: Vasus
• वसवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• अश्विनौ: the Aśvins (twin gods)
• अश्विनौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, द्विवचनम् (dual)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating to the sages (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A vast amphitheater-like sacred clearing filled with luminous siddhas, jewel-bearing yakṣas, shadowy piśācas at the periphery, airborne cāraṇas singing, and radiant Ādityas and Aśvins—each group distinct yet oriented toward a single divine center.

Characters & Entities

• Siddhas
• Yakṣas
• Piśācas
• Cāraṇas
• Ādityas
• Guhyakas
• Sādhyas
• Vasus
• Aśvins

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Śiva’s sacred manifestation is depicted as universally compelling—drawing beings from many cosmic classes, not only humans and sages.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The surrounding narrative situates the event at Mandara; this verse emphasizes the scale of attendance rather than naming a separate tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; it supports the māhātmya by portraying a grand, multi-realm congregation.