Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

अथांते कर्मणस्तस्य ब्रह्मा प्राह शतक्रतुम् । हितार्थं सर्वलोकस्य विनयावनतं स्थितम्

Transliteration

athāṃte karmaṇastasya brahmā prāha śatakratum | hitārthaṃ sarvalokasya vinayāvanataṃ sthitam

Translation

তারপর সেই কর্মের শেষে ব্রহ্মা শতক্রতু (ইন্দ্র)-কে বললেন। তিনি বিনয়ে নত হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছিলেন; ব্রহ্মা সকল লোকের কল্যাণার্থে কথা বললেন।

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक

• अन्ते: at the end
• अन्ते: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन (at the end)

• कर्मणः: of the rite
• कर्मणः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive determiner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी; एकवचन; ‘कर्मणः’ इति विशेषणम् (of that)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (said/spoke)

• शतक्रतुम्: Śatakratu (Indra)
• शतक्रतुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत-क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; समासः—शतं क्रतवो यस्य (इन्द्रः)

• हितार्थम्: for the benefit
• हितार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हित-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (for the welfare/purpose)

• सर्वलोकस्य: of all people/worlds
• सर्वलोकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन; समासः—सर्वे लोकाः (all worlds/people)

• विनयावनतम्: humbled with humility
• विनयावनतम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय-अवनत (प्रातिपदिक; अवनत = √नम् क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; समासः—विनयेन अवनतः (humbled by modesty); ‘शतक्रतुम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• स्थितम्: standing
• स्थितम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; ‘शतक्रतुम्’ इति विशेषणम् (standing/being)

Speaker

Sūta (narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Jyeṣṭhapuṣkara

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At the close of a rite, Brahmā addresses Indra; Indra stands with folded hands, head bowed, while priests and pilgrims form a respectful circle around the ritual space.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Śatakratu (Indra)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Authority in dharma is paired with humility: even Indra receives guidance for the universal good.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The setting remains Jyeṣṭhapuṣkara/Jyeṣṭha-kuṇḍa during the great bathing rites.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The verse marks the completion of a major rite and introduces divine instruction connected to proper conduct during the gathering.