Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 488

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा पैतामहं यज्ञं कौतुकेन समन्विताः । कीदृशो भविता यज्ञो दीक्षितो यत्र पद्मजः

Transliteration

śrutvā paitāmahaṃ yajñaṃ kautukena samanvitāḥ | kīdṛśo bhavitā yajño dīkṣito yatra padmajaḥ

Translation

Als sie vom Paitāmaha-Opfer hörten, wurden sie von ehrfürchtigem Staunen erfüllt: „Wie wird jenes Yajña sein, in dem der Lotosgeborene (Brahmā) selbst als Dīkṣita, als geweihter Vollzieher, handelt?“

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: अव्यय-कृदन्त (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having heard)

• पैतामहम्: of the Grandfather (Brahmā); ancestral
• पैतामहम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पैतामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (pertaining to the Pitāmaha/Brahmā)

• यज्ञम्: sacrifice
• यज्ञम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कौतुकॆन: with curiosity; with eagerness
• कौतुकॆन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौतुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• समन्विताः: endowed; accompanied
• समन्विताः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अन्वि/इ (धातु) → समन्वित (कृदन्त/भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोगः (endowed/possessed)

• कीदृशः: what kind of?
• कीदृशः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-विशेषणम्

• भविता: will be
• भविता: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (he/it will be)

• यज्ञः: the sacrifice
• यज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दीक्षितः: consecrated; initiated
• दीक्षितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीक्ष् (धातु) → दीक्षित (कृदन्त/भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (initiated/consecrated)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Avyaya (Clause linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक (relative adverb: where)

• पद्मजः: Padmaja (Brahmā)
• पद्मजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म + ज (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पद्मात् जायते इति = Brahmā)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; likely Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra (hosting the Paitāmaha yajña)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: dvijottamāḥ (audience)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Crowds of sages and celestial beings gather, faces lit with anticipation, looking toward a grand yajña arena where Brahmā is to be consecrated; banners, vedi geometry, and ritual vessels abound.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā (Padmaja)
• Paitāmaha Yajña
• Yajña

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When the highest authorities honor a rite with consecration, it magnifies faith and inspires seekers to approach sacred places and rituals with reverence.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Within the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya narrative framework; the verse foregrounds the Paitāmaha yajña rather than naming a new tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dīkṣā (ritual consecration) of the yajamāna is referenced—here, remarkably, Brahmā himself is said to be dīkṣita.