Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

वृक्षस्थाः पितरो देवाः प्राणिनां हित काम्यया । वृक्षाणां सेवनं श्रेष्ठं सर्वमासेषु सर्वदा

Transliteration

vṛkṣasthāḥ pitaro devāḥ prāṇināṃ hita kāmyayā | vṛkṣāṇāṃ sevanaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ sarvamāseṣu sarvadā

Translation

«إنّ البِتْرِ (الآباء الأسلاف) والآلهة يقيمون في الأشجار، رغبةً في خير الكائنات. وخدمة الأشجار هي العمل الأسمى—في كل وقت، وفي كل شهر، على الدوام.»

Word by Word

• vṛkṣa-sthāḥ: situated on trees
• vṛkṣa-sthāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sthā (√sthā धातु; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त/स्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (स्थिताः = standing/being situated)

• pitaraḥ: the Pitṛs (ancestors)
• pitaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समनाधिकरण (pitaraḥ)

• prāṇinām: of living beings
• prāṇinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• hita: welfare, benefit
• hita: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक; √dhā धातु से निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘हितम्’ (sandhi-lopa in text)

• kāmyayā: by the wish (to do good)
• kāmyayā: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; हेतौ/करणे (by/for the sake of desire)

• vṛkṣāṇām: of trees
• vṛkṣāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• sevanam: service/attendance (to trees)
• sevanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sevana (प्रातिपदिक; √sev धातु से भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• śreṣṭham: best
• śreṣṭham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘sevanam’ इति विशेषण

• sarva-māseṣu: in all months
• sarva-māseṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण (in all months)

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Gālava

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A sacred grove where luminous Pitṛs and Devas are subtly depicted residing within tree trunks/canopies; devotees offer water and circumambulate; animals and birds appear protected, emphasizing universal welfare.

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Devas
• Trees (Vṛkṣāḥ)
• Living beings (Prāṇinaḥ)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Tree-care is elevated to a perennial dharma because it supports life and honors both devas and ancestors.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The teaching is embedded in the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya narrative frame, though the verse universalizes the dharma beyond one locale.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Sevana (service) of trees—nurturing, protecting, and honoring them—is prescribed as an always-valid meritorious act.