Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

एकांते सदसो मध्ये होमार्थं द्विजसत्तमाः । तस्मिन्व्याकुलतां याते ब्राह्मणः कश्चिदागतः

Transliteration

ekāṃte sadaso madhye homārthaṃ dvijasattamāḥ | tasminvyākulatāṃ yāte brāhmaṇaḥ kaścidāgataḥ

Translation

An einem abgelegenen Ort, inmitten der Opferhalle, bereiteten sich die Besten der Zweimalgeborenen auf das Homa vor. In diesem Augenblick, als dort Aufruhr entstand, traf ein gewisser Brahmane ein.

Word by Word

• एकान्ते: in a secluded place
• एकान्ते: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (Masculine locative singular)

• सदसः: of the assembly hall
• सदसः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (Neuter genitive singular)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (Neuter locative singular)

• होमार्थम्: for the purpose of the oblation (homa)
• होमार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (Masculine accusative singular) — प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose of homa)

• द्विजसत्तमाः: the best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजसत्तमाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम् (Masculine nominative plural)

• तस्मिन्: in that (situation/place)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/circumstance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (Locative singular)

• व्याकुलताम्: agitation; confusion
• व्याकुलताम्: Karma (Object/state reached)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याकुलता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (Feminine accusative singular)

• याते: when (they) had come to
• याते: Sati-saptami (Temporal circumstance)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: या (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → यात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः; पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (Locative singular) — सति-सप्तमी (when [they] had gone/come to)

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Masculine nominative singular)

• कश्चित्: some; a certain
• कश्चित्: Visheshana (Indefinite qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Masculine nominative singular) — अनिर्दिष्टवाचकः (indefinite pronoun)

• आगतः: arrived
• आगतः: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicative adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Masculine nominative singular) — ब्राह्मणस्य विधेयविशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Keśvara-kṣetra (Śrīhāṭa)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and sages

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Within the sadas, priests pause mid-preparation for homa as a lone brāhmaṇa enters; heads turn, a ripple of commotion spreads; the newcomer’s calm presence contrasts with the busy ritual setting.

Characters & Entities

• Homa
• Sadas (sacrificial hall)
• Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual space is portrayed as sensitive and consequential; unexpected arrivals can test the steadiness of dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative remains under the Nāgara Khaṇḍa’s tīrtha-māhātmya umbrella associated with Śrīhāṭa–Keśvara-kṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Preparation for homa within the sadas (sacrificial hall), indicating proper spatial and procedural arrangement.