Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

विषमस्थं तृणान्नाद्यं कथंचित्पुत्रक त्वया । नैकाकिना प्रगंतव्यं यूथं त्यक्त्वा निजं क्वचित्

Transliteration

viṣamasthaṃ tṛṇānnādyaṃ kathaṃcitputraka tvayā | naikākinā pragaṃtavyaṃ yūthaṃ tyaktvā nijaṃ kvacit

Translation

ลูกน้อยเอ๋ย อย่าได้กินหญ้าที่อยู่ในที่อันคดเคี้ยวอันตรายไม่ว่ากรณีใด และอย่าไปที่ใดตามลำพัง โดยละทิ้งฝูงของตน

Word by Word

• विषमस्थम्: situated in a difficult/uneven place
• विषमस्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधार)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विषमे स्थः/स्थितः = situated in uneven/difficult place); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (acc. sg., qualifying next noun)

• तृणान्नाद्यम्: grass/food provisions
• तृणान्नाद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण + अन्न + आद्य (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तृण-अन्न-आद्य = grass/food etc. as provisions); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कथंचित्: somehow
• कथंचित्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथंचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: somehow, by some means)

• पुत्रक: O dear son
• पुत्रक: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन (vocative; diminutive/affectionate)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Particle (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• एकाकिना: alone
• एकाकिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन (instrumental: alone)

• प्रगन्तव्यम्: to be gone, should go
• प्रगन्तव्यम्: Vidhi (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + गम् (धातु) → गन्तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थक कृदन्त (तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निषेधेन सह: ‘न ... प्रगन्तव्यम्’ (should not go)

• यूथम्: the herd/group
• यूथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यूथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (accusative)

• त्यक्त्वा: having left
• त्यक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप कृदन्त (absolutive/gerund: having abandoned)

• निजम्: one's own
• निजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (qualifying yūtham)

• क्वचित्: anywhere
• क्वचित्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: anywhere/ever)

Speaker

Nandinī (the cow, speaking to her calf)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pastoral-forest scene: a young one about to step onto a precarious slope to graze; an elder stops him and points toward the herd/group on safer ground.

Characters & Entities

• Nandinī

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Discernment and companionship protect life; dharma is sustained by avoiding risky temptations and staying within supportive community.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it provides narrative instruction within the Mahātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse gives practical niyamas—avoid hazardous grazing and avoid solitary wandering.