Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

अथ संप्रस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा तान्देवान्स्वाश्रमं प्रति । गजेंद्रशुकमण्डूकास्ते प्रोचुर्दुःखसंयुताः

Transliteration

atha saṃprasthitāndṛṣṭvā tāndevānsvāśramaṃ prati | gajeṃdraśukamaṇḍūkāste procurduḥkhasaṃyutāḥ

Translation

随后，见诸天神启程返回各自的道场（āśrama），象王、鹦鹉与青蛙——满怀忧苦——便开口说道。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then)

• संप्रस्थितान्: departed, set out
• संप्रस्थितान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-प्र-√स्था (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (qualifying तान् देवान्)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त; त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• देवान्: gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• स्वाश्रमम्: their own hermitage
• स्वाश्रमम्: Gati/Karma (Goal as object/गति-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय (स्वः आश्रमः); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Dik/Goal (Direction/गति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-निपात (preposition: towards)

• गजेन्द्रशुकमण्डूकाः: the elephant(-king), the parrot, and the frogs
• गजेन्द्रशुकमण्डूकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (गजेन्द्रः च शुकः च मण्डूकाः च); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

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

• प्रोचुः: said, spoke
• प्रोचुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• दुःखसंयुताः: afflicted with sorrow
• दुःखसंयुताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: समास: तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (दुःखेन संयुताः = endowed with sorrow); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (agreeing with ते)

Speaker

Sūta (context continued)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of devas depart toward their āśrama; in the foreground, an elephant-king, a parrot, and a frog—visibly distressed—call out to stop them, hands/limbs folded in supplication.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Gajendra (elephant-king)
• Śuka (parrot)
• Maṇḍūka (frog)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Those burdened by suffering seek refuge in divine guidance; tīrtha narratives often begin with afflicted beings approaching the gods for a remedy.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The surrounding chapter glorifies Agnitīrtha; this verse introduces the next episode connected to the devas’ departure.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None in this verse; it is a narrative bridge leading to counsel and remedial action.