Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 60

Devanagari script

सोऽहं भद्रे दुराचारो नृशंसो जीवघातकः । यास्यामि नरकं घोरं कर्मणानेन सर्वदा

Transliteration

so'haṃ bhadre durācāro nṛśaṃso jīvaghātakaḥ | yāsyāmi narakaṃ ghoraṃ karmaṇānena sarvadā

Translation

ভদ্রে, আমি দুরাচারী, নিষ্ঠুর, জীবহন্তা। এই কর্মের ফলে আমি নিশ্চয়ই ভয়ংকর নরকে যাব।

Word by Word

• सः: that (one), he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भद्रे: O good lady
• भद्रे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दुराचारः: of bad conduct
• दुराचारः: Karta (Predicate noun/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुराचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष ‘दुष्टः आचारः यस्य’ (one of bad conduct)

• नृशंसः: cruel
• नृशंसः: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृशंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘अहम्’ प्रति

• जीवघातकः: killer of living beings
• जीवघातकः: Karta (Predicate noun/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक) + घातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘जीवानां घातकः’

• यास्यामि: I will go
• यास्यामि: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्/Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• नरकम्: to hell
• नरकम्: Gati/Karma (Destination as object/गति-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘नरकम्’ प्रति

• कर्मणा: by (this) deed
• कर्मणा: Hetu/Karaṇa (Cause/Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instr. sg.)

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: Viśeṣaṇa (Demonstrative qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instr. sg.)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kāla (Temporal adverb/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘always’)

Speaker

Vyāghra (the tiger)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The tiger, head lowered, admits cruelty and fear of hell; the scene is emotionally heavy—contrition in a wild creature, with the truthful woman as compassionate witness.

Characters & Entities

• vyāghra (tiger)
• naraka
• jīvaghāta (killing beings)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Recognition of sin (pāpa-bodha) and karmic consequence is the first step toward reform and dharmic uplift.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse functions within the Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya framework; it underscores the tīrtha’s moral-spiritual atmosphere rather than naming a site here.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; it sets up the need for instruction (upadeśa), repentance, and dharmic correction.