Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 15

Devanagari script

कस्मात्त्वमस्य नीचस्य पशुपालस्य सर्वदा । अतिस्नेहसमायुक्तो निःस्पृहस्यापि शंस नः

Transliteration

kasmāttvamasya nīcasya paśupālasya sarvadā | atisnehasamāyukto niḥspṛhasyāpi śaṃsa naḥ

Translation

“এই নীচ গোপালজনৰ প্ৰতি তুমি সদায় ইমান অতিস্নেহ কিয় ৰাখা? তুমি নিজে নিস্পৃহ; আমাক কাৰণ কোৱা।”

Word by Word

• कस्मात्: why/from what reason
• कस्मात्: Hetu (Cause queried/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative); एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थ (why/from what cause)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (व्यवहारतः); प्रथमा; एकवचन

• अस्य: of this (man)
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन

• नीचस्य: of the low/base (person)
• नीचस्य: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पशुपालस्य)

• पशुपालस्य: of the cowherd/herdsman
• पशुपालस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशुपाल (प्रातिपदिक; पशु + पाल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always)

• अतिस्नेहसमायुक्तः: endowed with excessive affection
• अतिस्नेहसमायुक्तः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + स्नेह + सम् + युज् (धातु) → समायुक्त (कृत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (endowed/connected with excessive affection)

• निःस्पृहस्य: of the desireless/unattached (one)
• निःस्पृहस्य: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःस्पृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying अस्य/पशुपालस्य)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थ (even/also)

• शंस: tell/explain
• शंस: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative); मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नः: to us
• नः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Genitive/Dative); बहुवचन; अस्माकम्/अस्मभ्यम् (to us/of us)

Speaker

Family members/relatives (father, mother, sons, others) addressing the brāhmaṇa

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Relatives confront the protagonist, gesturing toward a simple cowherd figure in the background; contrast between household finery and the cowherd’s humble attire; tension between judgment and hidden sanctity.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Worldly status can obscure true bonds and duty; dharma may require honoring someone regardless of social labels.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named in this verse; it serves the ethical and narrative buildup within the Māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly—this is a question about the motivation for affection and (implied) rites.