Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

तन्मध्ये सुशुभं काष्ठं स्तंभजात्यं दृढं न्यसेत् । चन्दनः खदिरो वाथ बिल्वोवाऽश्वत्थ एव वा

Transliteration

tanmadhye suśubhaṃ kāṣṭhaṃ staṃbhajātyaṃ dṛḍhaṃ nyaset | candanaḥ khadiro vātha bilvovā'śvattha eva vā

Translation

وبينهما تُوضَع بإحكام قطعةُ خشبٍ بهيّةٌ صلبةٌ صالحةٌ للعمود—سواء كانت من خشب الصندل، أو الخَدِرَة (khadira)، أو البِلفَة (bilva)، أو حتى الأَشْوَتْثَة (aśvattha).

Word by Word

• tatmadhye: in the middle of that
• tatmadhye: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (तस्य मध्ये)

• suśubham: very auspicious/beautiful
• suśubham: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सु + शुभ)

• kāṣṭham: wood
• kāṣṭham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• staṃbhajātyam: of a kind suitable for a pillar
• staṃbhajātyam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: staṃbha + jāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्तम्भस्य जात्यम् = pillar-suitable kind)

• dṛḍham: firm/strong
• dṛḍham: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• nyaset: should place
• nyaset: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• candanaḥ: sandalwood
• candanaḥ: Karta (Option/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• khadiraḥ: khadira wood (acacia)
• khadiraḥ: Karta (Option/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khadira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• atha: or else/then
• atha: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/प्रसङ्गबोधक अव्यय (then/also)

• bilvaḥ: bilva wood
• bilvaḥ: Karta (Option/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bilva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

• aśvatthaḥ: aśvattha (sacred fig) wood
• aśvatthaḥ: Karta (Option/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvattha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (or)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: nṛpati (king)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Between two erected pillars, priests set a strong, polished timber beam/log chosen from sacred trees; sandalwood fragrance suggested; bilva leaves and aśvattha sprigs decorate the worksite.

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Candana
• Khadira
• Bilva
• Aśvattha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Choosing pure, auspicious materials reflects the intention to offer one’s best in sacred acts of giving.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The passage belongs to a tīrtha-māhātmya section but this verse focuses on ritual materials rather than naming the locality.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Selection and firm installation of pillar-wood, listing approved sacred tree species.