Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मस्थानेषु सर्वेषु समये धरणीतले । न ब्रह्मणा विना किंचित्कृत्यं सिद्धिमुपैष्यति

Transliteration

brahmasthāneṣu sarveṣu samaye dharaṇītale | na brahmaṇā vinā kiṃcitkṛtyaṃ siddhimupaiṣyati

Translation

An allen von Brahmā geheiligten Stätten auf Erden wird zur rechten Zeit kein Vorhaben ohne Brahmās Zustimmung zur Vollendung gelangen.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मस्थानेषु: in the places of Brahmā / sacred Brahmā-sites
• ब्रह्मस्थानेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (ब्रह्मणः स्थानानि)

• सर्वेषु: in all
• सर्वेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• समये: at the time
• समये: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• धरणीतले: on the surface of the earth
• धरणीतले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (धरण्याः तलम्)

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• ब्रह्मणा: with Brahmā / by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Saha/Instrument (Association/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Apadana (Without/अपादान-भावः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपपद-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम

• कृत्यम्: a duty/act to be done
• कृत्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• सिद्धिम्: success/accomplishment
• सिद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उपैष्यति: will attain/approach
• उपैष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इ (धातु) + उप- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Narratorial voice within Tīrthamāhātmya (speaker not explicit in the excerpt)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Brahmasthāna (generic category)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Pilgrims at a Brahmā-sthāna perform saṅkalpa at the right hour; a subtle presence of Brahmā (four-faced) bestows approval, symbolized by light or lotus emanation.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Rituals and worldly aims succeed when aligned with sacred place, proper time, and divine ordinance—here emphasized through Brahmā’s sanction.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse speaks generally of “Brahma-sthānas” (Brahmā-associated tīrthas) rather than naming a single location in this excerpt.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It prescribes performing undertakings at the right time in Brahmā-sanctified places, implying darśana/recognition of Brahmā’s authority for efficacy.