Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 151

Devanagari script

निष्कंपां सुदृढामृज्वीं नातिस्तब्धां न कुंचिताम् । ग्रीवां दधत्स्थिरां यत्नाद्गात्रयष्टिं च सर्वतः

Transliteration

niṣkaṃpāṃ sudṛḍhāmṛjvīṃ nātistabdhāṃ na kuṃcitām | grīvāṃ dadhatsthirāṃ yatnādgātrayaṣṭiṃ ca sarvataḥ

Translation

সে যত্ন করে নিজের গ্রীবা স্থির রাখল—অকম্প, অত্যন্ত দৃঢ়, ঋজু, না অতিরিক্ত কঠিন না কুঞ্চিত—এবং সর্বতোভাবে দেহ-আসনকে স্থিত রাখল।

Word by Word

• निष्कम्पाम्: unshaking
• निष्कम्पाम्: Karma (कर्म) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः-कम्प (प्रातिपदिक; निः + कम्प)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ग्रीवाम्)

• सुदृढाम्: very firm
• सुदृढाम्: Karma (कर्म) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ग्रीवाम्)

• ऋज्वीम्: straight
• ऋज्वीम्: Karma (कर्म) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋज्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ग्रीवाम्)

• नातिस्तब्धाम्: not overly stiff
• नातिस्तब्धाम्: Karma (कर्म) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न + अति + स्तब्ध (प्रातिपदिक; स्तभ् (धातु)→स्तब्ध (क्त))
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (न-अति = not overly) + विशेषणम् (ग्रीवाम्)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• कुञ्चिताम्: bent, contracted
• कुञ्चिताम्: Karma (कर्म) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुञ्चित (प्रातिपदिक; कुञ्च् (धातु)→कुञ्चित (क्त))
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ग्रीवाम्)

• ग्रीवाम्: neck
• ग्रीवाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रीवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दधत्: bearing, holding
• दधत्: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) ‘दधत्’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि—‘bearing/holding’ (refers to the ascetic)

• स्थिराम्: steady
• स्थिराम्: Karma (कर्म) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (ग्रीवाम्)

• यत्नात्: with effort
• यत्नात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ/प्रयत्नवाचक—‘with effort’

• गात्रयष्टिम्: the body’s rod-like posture (straight frame)
• गात्रयष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र-यष्टि (प्रातिपदिक; गात्र + यष्टि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गात्राणां यष्टिः = body-posture/rod-like frame)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• सर्वतः: on all sides, entirely
• सर्वतः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परितः/सर्वदिक्-वाचक (adverb: on all sides/entirely)

Speaker

Sūta (deduced: Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narration style)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Close focus on the ascetic’s poised neck and stable posture—straight, unshaking, neither stiff nor slumped—his whole body like a steady staff, breath calm, eyes half-closed.

Characters & Entities

• Suprabha

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual steadiness is supported by disciplined posture—balanced between rigidity and laxity—reflecting dharmic moderation.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse occurs within a Tīrthamāhātmya chapter, but it focuses on yoga practice rather than naming the place.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A meditative discipline is implied (stable posture), but no formal ritual like snāna or dāna is specified.