Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 77

Devanagari script

अथाऽपश्यन्मनोहारि सौम्यसत्त्वनिषेवितम् । आश्रमं ह्रदतीरस्थं तापसैः सर्वतो वृतम्

Transliteration

athā'paśyanmanohāri saumyasattvaniṣevitam | āśramaṃ hradatīrasthaṃ tāpasaiḥ sarvato vṛtam

Translation

Dann erblickte er eine bezaubernde Einsiedelei (Āśrama), von sanftmütigen Wesen aufgesucht, am Ufer eines Sees gelegen und ringsum von Asketen umgeben.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Kāla-sambandha (Temporal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (sequencer: then)

• apaśyat: he saw
• apaśyat: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paś (पश् धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष? (context suggests 3rd person) एकवचन; ‘he saw’

• manohāri: charming
• manohāri: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of āśramam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manas (मनस्) + hārin (हारिन्)
• Form: समास: मनोहारि (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘mind-stealing’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (आश्रमम्)

• saumya-sattva-niṣevitam: frequented by gentle creatures
• saumya-sattva-niṣevitam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of āśramam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saumya (सौम्य) + sattva (सत्त्व) + niṣevita (नि√सेव् धातु, क्त)
• Form: समास: सौम्यसत्त्वनिषेवित (तत्पुरुष; ‘frequented by gentle beings’); भूतकृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (आश्रमम्)

• āśramam: hermitage
• āśramam: Karma (Object of apaśyat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama (आश्रम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन

• hrada-tīra-stham: situated on the lake’s bank
• hrada-tīra-stham: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier of āśramam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hrada (ह्रद) + tīra (तीर) + stha (स्थ)
• Form: समास: ह्रदतीरस्थ (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: ‘situated on the lake-shore’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (आश्रमम्)

• tāpasaiḥ: by ascetics
• tāpasaiḥ: Karta (Agent in passive: vṛtam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāpasa (तापस प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन

• sarvataḥ: on all sides
• sarvataḥ: Deśādhikaraṇa (Spatial adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (सर्वतस् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशावाचक/पर्यन्तार्थ (adverb: on all sides)

• vṛtam: surrounded
• vṛtam: Kriyā (Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛ (वृ धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि (surrounded)

Speaker

Sūta (narrative continuation implied)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kund

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene hermitage on a lake’s edge, shaded and orderly, with ascetics seated in circles; the atmosphere is gentle, welcoming, and disciplined.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Tīrthas are not only waterscapes but also living centers of tapas and dharma, safeguarded by ascetic communities.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A hrada-tīra (lake-shore) āśrama is described; the proper tīrtha name is not mentioned in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; the verse establishes the ashram setting where teachings and rites are typically received.