Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

राजसूयो मखो येन इष्टः सम्पूर्णदक्षिणः । सर्वान्भूमिपतीन्वीर्यात्संविधाय करप्रदान्

Transliteration

rājasūyo makho yena iṣṭaḥ sampūrṇadakṣiṇaḥ | sarvānbhūmipatīnvīryātsaṃvidhāya karapradān

Translation

তিনি সম্পূর্ণ দক্ষিণাসহ রাজসূয় যজ্ঞ সম্পন্ন করেছিলেন; আর নিজের বীর্যে সকল ভূ-পতিকে শৃঙ্খলায় এনে কর প্রদান করিয়েছিলেন।

Word by Word

• राजसूयः: the Rājasūya (sacrifice)
• राजसूयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसूय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• मखः: sacrifice/rite
• मखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• इष्टः: performed
• इष्टः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘यजितः/अनुष्ठितः’ अर्थे

• सम्पूर्णदक्षिणः: with complete fees/gifts
• सम्पूर्णदक्षिणः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सम्पूर्णा दक्षिणा यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम्

• भूमिपतीन्: kings/lords of the earth
• भूमिपतीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भूमेः पतिः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• वीर्यात्: from (his) valor
• वीर्यात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (from/through valor)

• संविधाय: having arranged
• संविधाय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + विधा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Absolutive/Gerund), ‘संविधाय’ = having arranged/regulated

• करप्रदान्: tax-payments/tributes
• करप्रदान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (करस्य प्रदानम्), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A consecrated king in a yajña-sabhā: priests receiving dakṣiṇā, royal insignia, and subordinate kings presenting tribute—an image of dharma-ordered sovereignty.

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Rājasūya
• Bhūmipatis (kings)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ideal kingship unites ritual responsibility (yajña with dakṣiṇā) and righteous governance (order among rulers).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is named; the verse praises dharmic kingship within the broader māhātmya narration.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Performance of the Rājasūya sacrifice with proper completion of dakṣiṇā (ritual gifts).