Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

अपरं तत्र भूपोऽस्ति देशे दानपरः सदा । आनर्ताधिपतिः ख्यातः सर्वभूमौ सदैव सः

Transliteration

aparaṃ tatra bhūpo'sti deśe dānaparaḥ sadā | ānartādhipatiḥ khyātaḥ sarvabhūmau sadaiva saḥ

Translation

„Ferner gibt es in jener Gegend einen König, der stets dem Geben ergeben ist. Als Herr von Ānarta ist er berühmt, in allen Ländern bekannt.“

Word by Word

• अपरम्: another
• अपरम्: Vishesana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular (विशेषण—अन्यत्)

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

• भूपः: a king
• भूपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Present, 3rd person, Singular

• देशे: in the country/region
• देशे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Locative, Singular

• दान-परः: devoted to giving (charity-minded)
• दान-परः: Vishesana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक); Indeclinable adverb of time

• आनर्त-अधिपतिः: the ruler of Ānarta
• आनर्त-अधिपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनर्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ख्यातः: renowned, well-known
• ख्यातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• सर्व-भूमौ: in the whole land
• सर्व-भूमौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Locative, Singular

• सदैव: always indeed
• सदैव: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा + एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक + अवधारण); Indeclinable adverb with emphasis

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular (सर्वनाम)

Speaker

Brāhmaṇas

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Ānarta-deśa (regional frame)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A renowned king of Ānarta seated in court, offering gifts to ascetics; banners proclaim his fame across lands; the ascetics appear hesitant, hinting at the coming conflict.

Characters & Entities

• Ānarta
• King (Bhūpa)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Royal power can align with dharma through dāna, yet even praised generosity must be approached with spiritual discernment.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse situates the narrative in a ‘deśa’ associated with Ānarta; it does not name a particular tīrtha in this line.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Dāna (charity) is referenced as the king’s practice; no specific sacrificial or pilgrimage rite is detailed here.