Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

एवं कृत्वा विधानं तु ततश्चक्रे जनैः समम् । व्यवहारक्रियाः सर्वा द्रव्यलक्षैः सहस्रशः

Transliteration

evaṃ kṛtvā vidhānaṃ tu tataścakre janaiḥ samam | vyavahārakriyāḥ sarvā dravyalakṣaiḥ sahasraśaḥ

Translation

وبعد أن رتّب تلك التدابير على هذا النحو، شرع مع الناس في إجراء شتى المعاملات الدنيوية، يتداول الأموال ثراءً بمئاتٍ وآلافٍ من اللاكّات.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having done’

• विधानम्: arrangement, rule, procedure
• विधानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमबोधक (thereafter)

• चक्रे: he performed/made
• चक्रे: Kriya (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद-रूप (चकार/चक्रे इति पाठभेदः), ‘he did/caused’

• जनैः: with people
• जनैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• समम्: together (with)
• समम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगे अव्ययवत् (adverbial use) ‘together/equally’

• व्यवहारक्रियाः: legal/transactional procedures
• व्यवहारक्रियाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहार-क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्यवहारस्य क्रियाः)

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying व्यवहारक्रियाः)

• द्रव्यलक्षैः: with lakhs of wealth
• द्रव्यलक्षैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य-लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (द्रव्यस्य लक्षैः = by lakhs of wealth)

• सहस्रशः: by thousands, in thousands
• सहस्रशः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (distributive adverb: by thousands)

Speaker

Unknown (narrative voice within Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya; traditionally Sūta narrating to sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Marketplace/assembly scene: the man among townspeople counting coins and ledgers; piles of wealth; the house in background like a fortress; spiritual emptiness implied.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Material power and extensive commerce do not equal dharma; ethical conduct and compassion are the true measures of righteousness.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not specified in this verse; it continues the story within the pilgrimage-mahātmya frame.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; the verse focuses on worldly dealings (vyavahāra), not ritual practice.