Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 20

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा ततः सर्वं तेषां कृत्यं महीपतिः । स्वयमेवाकरोन्नित्यं दिवारात्रमतंद्रितः

Transliteration

evamuktvā tataḥ sarvaṃ teṣāṃ kṛtyaṃ mahīpatiḥ | svayamevākaronnityaṃ divārātramataṃdritaḥ

Translation

Nachdem er so gesprochen hatte, verrichtete der König daraufhin selbst alle für sie erforderlichen Pflichten—beständig, bei Tag und Nacht, ohne Nachlässigkeit.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु) (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adverbial (काल/अपादानार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb): ‘thereafter/from that’

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• कृत्यम्: duty/task
• कृत्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• महीपतिः: the king
• महीपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: मह्याः पतिः)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Adverbial (कर्तृविशेषणार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थक (reflexive adverb)

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• अकरोत्: did/performed
• अकरोत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adverbial (काल/नित्यत्व)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे प्रयुक्तम्; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• दिवा-रात्रम्: day and night
• दिवा-रात्रम्: Adverbial (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘day and night’

• अतन्द्रितः: untiring, unwearied
• अतन्द्रितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (महीपतिः इति विशेष्यस्य)

Speaker

Narrator (describing the king’s conduct)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The king, sleeves rolled, overseeing offerings, arranging supplies, and assisting Brahmins—shown across day and night: sun on one side, moon and lamps on the other, indicating continuous service.

Characters & Entities

• King (Mahīpati)
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True piety is sustained action—dharma requires ongoing service and protection, not a single ceremonial gift.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The tīrtha context remains in the background; this verse highlights exemplary conduct supporting sacred institutions.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Continuous service (kṛtya) to support the Brahmin beneficiaries—performed diligently day and night.