Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 29

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा शाकांस्तिलांस्तांस्तु दर्भांस्तेन यथोदितान् । अखनत्तत्र देशे च जलार्थे लघु कूपिकाम्

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā śākāṃstilāṃstāṃstu darbhāṃstena yathoditān | akhanattatra deśe ca jalārthe laghu kūpikām

Translation

Als er das Grün, den Sesam und das Darbha-Gras genau so sah, wie es beschrieben worden war, grub er an eben jener Stelle einen kleinen Brunnen, um Wasser zu gewinnen.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• शाकान्: leafy vegetables
• शाकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• तिलान्: sesame seeds
• तिलान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• तान्: those
• तान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोध (particle: but/indeed)

• दर्भान्: darbha grass
• दर्भान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• तेन: by him / as stated by him
• तेन: Karana (According to/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: as/according as)

• उदितान्: mentioned / said
• उदितान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-इ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (शाकान्/तिलान्/दर्भान् इत्येषाम्)

• अखनत्: dug
• अखनत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: खन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक

• देशे: in a place
• देशे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• जलार्थे: for water
• जलार्थे: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; जल + अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; हेतौ सप्तमी (locative of purpose)

• लघु: small
• लघु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कूपिकाम् इत्यस्य)

• कूपिकाम्: a small well/pit
• कूपिकाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूपिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrative voice (contextual; likely Sūta’s narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Plakṣa-mūla kūpikā (small well) at the śrāddha-sthāna

Type: kund

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The king, having found the exact ritual plants, digs a small well; attendants hold tools; the grove looks auspicious as water is sought for rites.

Characters & Entities

• Kūpikā (small well)
• Plakṣa-tree area (implied)
• Darbha
• Tila
• Śāka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A tīrtha’s sanctity is supported by practical dharma—creating a water source enables proper rites and enduring benefit for others.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The spot where the ‘laghu kūpikā’ (small well) is dug near the plakṣa tree, later renowned in the tradition.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Arrange the rite with correct materials and secure water—digging a small well is undertaken specifically ‘for water’ (jalārthe).