Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

शांतात्मा नियमोपेतश्चकार सुमहत्तपः । तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य वानप्रस्थस्य चाश्रमे

Transliteration

śāṃtātmā niyamopetaścakāra sumahattapaḥ | tasyaivaṃ vartamānasya vānaprasthasya cāśrame

Translation

Mit ruhiger Seele und von Gelübden getragen vollbrachte er große Askese. Während jener Vānaprastha so in seinem Āśrama lebte—

Word by Word

• शान्तात्मा: one whose self is calm
• शान्तात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (कृदन्त/विशेषण) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (शान्तः आत्मा यस्य)

• नियमोपेतः: endowed with disciplines
• नियमोपेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (कृदन्त, √इ (इण्) + उपसर्ग उप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (नियमैः उपेतः)

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

• चकार: did/performed
• चकार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (डुकृञ् करणे)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सुमहत्: very great
• सुमहत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय-उपसर्गवत्) + महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (सुमहत् = अतिमहत्)

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• एवं: thus
• एवं: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• वर्तमानस्य: of (him) living/being
• वर्तमानस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्तमान (कृदन्त, √वृत् (वृत्तौ) शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; वर्तमान-शतृ-प्रत्यय (present participle)

• वानप्रस्थस्य: of the forest-dweller (vānaprastha)
• वानप्रस्थस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानप्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

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

• आश्रमे: in the hermitage
• आश्रमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A serene forest hermitage: a calm ascetic seated in meditation with water-pot and staff; kusa-grass hut; sacred fire; deer and birds nearby; the atmosphere of disciplined quiet.

Characters & Entities

• Mṛkaṇḍu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Self-restraint (niyama) and austerity (tapas) are portrayed as the inner engines that consecrate a place and elevate a life.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The āśrama region near Camatkārapura remains the narrative setting; the tīrtha framing is developed in subsequent verses.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

General observance of niyamas and tapas is implied; no named vow, bath, or offering is specified.