Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

चतुर्हस्तसमोपेत आखुवाहनगस्तथा । कुठारहस्तश्च तथा मोदकाशनतोषकृत्

Transliteration

caturhastasamopeta ākhuvāhanagastathā | kuṭhārahastaśca tathā modakāśanatoṣakṛt

Translation

وہ چار ہاتھوں سے یکتاست اور چوہے کو اپنی سواری بناتا ہے۔ ہاتھ میں کلہاڑا دھارتا ہے اور مودک کھانے میں مسرت پاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• चतुर्हस्तसमोपेतः: endowed with four hands
• चतुर्हस्तसमोपेतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + हस्त + समुपेत (कृदन्त; सम्-उप-√इ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त ‘समुपेत’ = endowed with; समासः (चत्वारः हस्ताः यस्य)

• आखुवाहनगः: having a mouse as his vehicle
• आखुवाहनगः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आखु + वाहन + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘ग’ = going/being; अर्थतः ‘आखुवाहनः’ (whose vehicle is a mouse)

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• कुठारहस्तः: having an axe in (his) hand
• कुठारहस्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुठार + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (कुठारः हस्ते यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मोदकाशनतोषकृत्: one who is pleased by eating modakas
• मोदकाशनतोषकृत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोदक + अशन + तोष + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘कृत्’ = maker/doer; समासः (मोदकानाम् अशनात् तोषं करोति)

Speaker

Sūta (contextual continuation)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Gaṇanātha

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣayaḥ

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A clear devotional visualization: Gaṇeśa with four hands, mouse mount, holding an axe, enjoying modakas—an approachable, auspicious deity-form.

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇeśa
• Ākhu (mouse)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The deity’s form teaches function: Gaṇeśa’s attributes symbolize protection, removal of impediments, and accessible devotion through simple offerings.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it supports the broader tīrtha-māhātmya narrative by establishing Gaṇeśa’s identity.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Implied devotional offering: modakas are associated with pleasing Gaṇeśa, though no formal ritual rule is stated here.