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

এভাবে ব্যবস্থা করে সে পরে লোকজনের সঙ্গে লক্ষ লক্ষ ধনসম্পদ নিয়ে সহস্র সহস্র প্রকারের সব লৌকিক লেনদেন সম্পন্ন করল।

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.