Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 42

Devanagari script

तस्मात्कुरुत विप्रेंद्रा यथोक्तं शांतिकं मम । न पुत्रश्च राष्ट्रं च विभवश्च विवर्धते

Transliteration

tasmātkuruta vipreṃdrā yathoktaṃ śāṃtikaṃ mama | na putraśca rāṣṭraṃ ca vibhavaśca vivardhate

Translation

فلذلك، يا سادةَ البراهمةِ الأجلّاء، أقيموا لأجلي شعيرةَ التسكين ودفعِ النحس (شانتِكا) كما وُصِفَت؛ إذ لولا ذلك فلن يزدهر ابني ولا مملكتي ولا رخائي.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (अव्यय/तद्-प्रयोग)
• Form: हेतौ अव्ययप्रयोग (ablatival adverb ‘therefore’)

• कुरुत: do/perform
• कुरुत: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• विप्रेन्द्राः: O best of Brahmins
• विप्रेन्द्राः: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र-इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), बहुवचन

• यथोक्तम्: as prescribed
• यथोक्तम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-उक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial ‘as said’), अव्ययीभाववत्

• शान्तिकम्: the pacificatory rite
• शान्तिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मम: for me/of me
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• राष्ट्रम्: kingdom/state
• राष्ट्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• विभवः: prosperity/wealth
• विभवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• विवर्धते: grows/increases
• विवर्धते: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Rājā (the King)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Camatkārapura

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The king, visibly earnest, requests the brāhmaṇas to perform the prescribed śānti; ritual fire altar is being prepared, with kalashas, offerings, and assistants ready, symbolizing the welfare of son and kingdom hanging in balance.

Characters & Entities

• viprendrāḥ (chief brāhmaṇas)
• rāṣṭra (kingdom)
• śāntika

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Personal welfare and public prosperity are tied to dharmic maintenance; rulers must prioritize remedial and protective rites.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named in this verse; it emphasizes the necessity of śānti for the kingdom’s flourishing.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Execution of the prescribed śāntika rite by qualified brāhmaṇas (viprendras).