Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

यजता देवदेवेन ब्रह्मणाऽमिततेजसा । यज्ञकामं चतुर्वक्त्रं ज्ञात्वा देवः शतक्रतुः

Transliteration

yajatā devadevena brahmaṇā'mitatejasā | yajñakāmaṃ caturvaktraṃ jñātvā devaḥ śatakratuḥ

Translation

Als der Gott der Götter, Brahmā von unermesslichem Glanz, das yajña vollzog—da er erkannte, dass der Viergesichtige das Opfer zur Vollendung bringen wollte—wurde Indra, der Herr der hundert Riten (Śatakratu), dessen gewahr und handelte.

Word by Word

• yajatā: by the sacrificer; by one performing sacrifice
• yajatā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaj (धातु) → yajant (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/करण), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भाव्य; ‘यजता’ = ‘यजमान/यजनशील’ (by the sacrificer)

• devadevena: by the God of gods
• devadevena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva-deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां देवः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• brahmaṇā: by Brahmā
• brahmaṇā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• amitatejasā: of immeasurable splendor (by the one of immeasurable radiance)
• amitatejasā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amita-tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (अमितं तेजः यस्य/अमिततेजस्), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः विशेषणम्

• yajñakāmam: desirous of a sacrifice
• yajñakāmam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yajña-kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यज्ञस्य कामः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘चतुर्वक्त्रम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• caturvaktram: the four-faced one (Brahmā)
• caturvaktram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur-vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु/तत्पुरुष-समास (चत्वारि वक्त्राणि यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ब्रह्माणम् (चतुर्मुखम्)

• jñātvā: having known
• jñātvā: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• devaḥ: the god
• devaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• śatakratuḥ: Śatakratu (Indra)
• śatakratuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata-kratu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शतं क्रतवो यस्य/शतक्रतुः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; इन्द्रस्य नाम

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Brahmā, four-faced and radiant, conducts a grand yajña; Indra observes and prepares to respond, with hints of a gathering of devas in the sacrificial arena.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Indra (Śatakratu)
• Yajña
• Caturvaktra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When a righteous rite is undertaken, divine forces align in support—cosmic order favors dharmic sacrifice.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

This is part of a tīrtha-māhātmya chapter; the precise location is not named in this single verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It indicates Brahmā’s performance of yajña; no specific procedural rule is stated beyond the act and intent.