Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 8

Devanagari script

तस्माद्यत्कुरुषे यज्ञं ब्राह्मणैर्नागरैः कुरु । नान्यथा लप्स्यसे कर्तुं जीवद्भिर्नागरैर्द्विजैः

Transliteration

tasmādyatkuruṣe yajñaṃ brāhmaṇairnāgaraiḥ kuru | nānyathā lapsyase kartuṃ jīvadbhirnāgarairdvijaiḥ

Translation

Darum, welches Opfer (yajña) du auch unternimmst, vollziehe es mit den Nāgara-Brahmanen. Andernfalls wird es dir, solange die Nāgara-Zweimalgeborenen leben, nicht gestattet sein, es auszuführen.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: from that; therefore
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे (contextual), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• यत्: which (that)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (relative pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुरुषे: you do/perform
• कुरुषे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• यज्ञम्: sacrifice; ritual
• यज्ञम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्राह्मणैः: by/with Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नागरैः: by/with the Nāgaras (citizens/people called Nāgara)
• नागरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कुरु: do; perform
• कुरु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• अन्यथा: otherwise; in another way
• अन्यथा: Adhikarana (Adverbial/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• लप्स्यसे: you will obtain; you will be able to get
• लप्स्यसे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• कर्तुम्: to do; to perform
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), क्रियार्थक (purpose/action-noun)

• जीवद्भिः: by the living (ones)
• जीवद्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीवत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जीव्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नागरैः: by/with Nāgaras
• नागरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• द्विजैः: by/with twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Nāgara brāhmaṇas (collectively), issuing a binding instruction (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A patron of a sacrifice is admonished by Nāgara brāhmaṇas: the yajña must be conducted under their authority; the atmosphere is tense yet dharmic, with ritual implements visible in the background.

Characters & Entities

• Nāgara brāhmaṇas
• dvija (twice-born)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

In a sacred place, dharma is upheld through proper ritual collaboration; ignoring established custodianship obstructs the rite itself.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The rule is framed for the Nāgarakhaṇḍa tīrtha-region, highlighting its distinctive ritual governance as part of its mahātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform yajña in this place together with the Nāgara brāhmaṇas; otherwise the performance will be blocked/unauthorized.