Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 49

Devanagari script

तस्माद्द्वाभ्यां मया कार्यं क्षेत्रे सौख्यं यथा भवेत् । ब्राह्मणानां विशेषेण तथा चात्र निवासिनाम्

Transliteration

tasmāddvābhyāṃ mayā kāryaṃ kṣetre saukhyaṃ yathā bhavet | brāhmaṇānāṃ viśeṣeṇa tathā cātra nivāsinām

Translation

„Darum muss ich durch euch beide bewirken, dass in diesem heiligen Kṣetra Wohlergehen herrscht—besonders für die Brahmanen und ebenso für die hier Wohnenden.“

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/Reason marker/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति निपातवत् प्रयोगः; हेत्वर्थे (therefore/from that reason)

• द्वाभ्याम्: by/with two (persons/things)
• द्वाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (संख्याशब्द-प्रयोग), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कार्यम्: (something) to be done/duty
• कार्यम्: Karya (Obligation/कर्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (प्रत्यय) → कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligation)

• क्षेत्रे: in the sacred field/place
• क्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सौख्यम्: happiness/welfare
• सौख्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यथा: so that
• यथा: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (so that/as)

• भवेत्: may be/should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (instrumental used adverbially)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (likewise)

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

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Desha-adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• निवासिनाम्: of the residents (living here)
• निवासिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि (उपसर्ग) + वस् (धातु) + इन् (प्रत्यय) → निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun: resident)

Speaker

Maheśvara (Śiva)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva addresses two agents/figures (implied ‘the two of you’) commissioning them to establish well-being in the kṣetra; background shows orderly settlement—ghāṭa, shrine, and homes—symbolizing protected community life.

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara
• Brāhmaṇas
• Kṣetra (holy field)
• Residents of the kṣetra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A tīrtha’s greatness includes social and spiritual welfare—protecting those who uphold rites and those who live within the sacred geography.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A particular kṣetra within the Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya is implied, presented as a refuge and center of well-being (the name is not specified in this verse alone).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is given; the instruction is administrative/spiritual—ensuring peace and prosperity in the kṣetra.