Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 58

Devanagari script

ततस्ते मुनयो भीता असत्यात्तात तत्क्षणात् । समादाय ययुस्तत्र यत्र ब्रह्मा व्यवस्थितः

Transliteration

tataste munayo bhītā asatyāttāta tatkṣaṇāt | samādāya yayustatra yatra brahmā vyavasthitaḥ

Translation

Bấy giờ các vị hiền triết ấy, vì sợ điều hư vọng, hỡi phụ thân, ngay trong khoảnh khắc liền thu xếp lên đường, đến nơi Phạm Thiên (Brahmā) đang ngự.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Sambandha (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तस्मात्/अनन्तरम् अर्थे (from then/thereupon)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भीताः: frightened
• भीताः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भी (धातु) + भीत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• असत्यात्: because of untruth/falsehood
• असत्यात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• तात: O dear (son)
• तात: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्क्षणात्: immediately, at that moment
• तत्क्षणात्: Kala-adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (immediately)

• समादाय: having taken (with them)
• समादाय: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• ययुः: went
• ययुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Sambandha (Relative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सम्बन्धबोधक (relative adverb: where)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्यवस्थितः: was situated/present
• व्यवस्थितः: Kriya (State/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-अव-स्था (धातु) + व्यवस्थित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; स्थित्यर्थे—‘was stationed/was present’

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Brahmā-sannidhi (unspecified)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: his father

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The sages, alarmed, gather their waterpots and staffs and depart swiftly in a group toward Brahmā’s abode—depicted as a luminous lotus-seat or a radiant celestial court—driven by urgency to protect truth.

Characters & Entities

• sages (munis)
• Brahmā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Satya is paramount; the wise act quickly to prevent untruth and seek higher guidance to uphold dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not specified in this verse; it transitions the story toward Brahmā’s realm/presence.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it narrates the sages’ immediate journey motivated by commitment to truth.