Skanda Purana — Avanti Khanda, Shloka 17

Devanagari script

पालयित्वा नयाद्भूमिं मखैः संतर्प्य देवताः । स्वर्गं गतो महातेजा रामो राजीवलोचनः

Transliteration

pālayitvā nayādbhūmiṃ makhaiḥ saṃtarpya devatāḥ | svargaṃ gato mahātejā rāmo rājīvalocanaḥ

Translation

Nachdem er die Erde nach rechtschaffener Ordnung regiert und die Götter durch Opfer (yajña) gesättigt hatte, ging der strahlende, lotosäugige Rāma in den Himmel ein.

Word by Word

• पालयित्वा: having ruled/protected
• पालयित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: णिजन्त-पाल-धातोः त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (क्त्वान्त/gerund); English: absolutive “having governed/protected”

• नयात्: by good policy/justice
• नयात्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; English: masculine ablative singular; ‘नयात्’ = ‘नयेन/नयात्’ (by/through policy; ablative used adverbially)

• भूमिम्: the earth
• भूमिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मखैः: with sacrifices
• मखैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; English: masculine instrumental plural

• संतर्प्य: having satisfied
• संतर्प्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तृप् (धातु) + सम्- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: सम्-तृप्-धातोः ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (ल्यबन्त/gerund); English: absolutive “having satisfied”

• देवताः: the deities
• देवताः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (कर्मत्वे); English: feminine accusative plural

• स्वर्गम्: to heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Gati-Karma (गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गत्यर्थकक्रियायां कर्मवत्; English: masculine accusative singular

• गतः: went
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: गम्-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्तः; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक); घटकाः: महा + तेजस्
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘रामः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; English: masculine nominative singular adjective

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• राजीवलोचनः: lotus-eyed
• राजीवलोचनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजीव-लोचन (प्रातिपदिक); घटकाः: राजीव + लोचन
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘राजीवसदृशे लोचने यस्य सः’; ‘रामः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; English: masculine nominative singular adjective (possessive compound)

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) (deduced: Āvantya Khaṇḍa narration style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Rāma seated as ideal king dispensing justice; sacrificial fires with priests offering oblations; devas subtly present receiving satisfaction; final serene ascent—Rāma radiant, lotus-eyed, moving toward celestial realm.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Devatās
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Righteous governance and sacrificial responsibility uphold cosmic harmony; such dharmic living culminates in auspicious transcendence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No particular tīrtha is named; the verse highlights ideals of dharma (naya) and yajña.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Sacrifices (makha/yajña) are referenced as a means of sustaining deities and order, but no specific rite is detailed.