Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

अपसव्यं ततः कृत्वा पित्रर्थं चाभिमंत्रयेत् । ब्राह्मणांस्त्रीन्यथाशक्त्या एकैकस्य पृथक्पृथक्

Transliteration

apasavyaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā pitrarthaṃ cābhimaṃtrayet | brāhmaṇāṃstrīnyathāśaktyā ekaikasya pṛthakpṛthak

Translation

Dann, indem er die heilige Schnur in umgekehrter Weise trägt (apasavya), soll er die Anrufung zum Wohle der Pitṛs, der Ahnen, vollziehen. Nach seinen Möglichkeiten lade er drei Brāhmaṇas ein, jeden einzeln und gesondert ansprechend.

Word by Word

• अपसव्यम्: the apasavya (leftward position)
• अपसव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप-सव्य (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular; ‘सव्यस्य अप’ (leftward/with left side)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequencer/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय, तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) — ‘thereafter/from that’

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (Prior action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय — ‘having done/made’

• पितृअर्थम्: for the Pitṛs (manes)
• पितृअर्थम्: Sampradana (Beneficiary/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular; ‘पितॄणाम् अर्थम्’ (for the fathers/manes)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• अभिमन्त्रयेत्: should invoke (with mantra)
• अभिमन्त्रयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि√मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — ‘should consecrate/invoke with mantra’

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Accusative plural

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Accusative plural; विशेषण (ब्राह्मणान्)

• यथाशक्त्या: according to ability
• यथाशक्त्या: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा-शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक; अव्ययीभावसमास)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् — adverb

• एकैकस्य: of each one
• एकैकस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक-एक (प्रातिपदिक; पुनरुक्ति-समासवत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — Genitive singular; ‘of each one’

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, भेदवाचक (separately)

• पृथक्: each separately
• पृथक्: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्ति — emphasis

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya instructional discourse style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A performer reverses the sacred thread (apasavya), sits on darbha, and respectfully invites three Brāhmaṇas one by one for pitṛ-kārya, holding a water vessel and kusha grass.

Characters & Entities

• Pitṛs
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Pitṛ-devotion is expressed through disciplined ritual conduct—proper orientation (apasavya) and respectful, orderly invitation of qualified Brāhmaṇas.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is within the Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya framework, emphasizing tīrtha-based śrāddha; the specific tīrtha name is not stated in this shloka.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Wear the thread apasavya for Pitṛ rites and invite three Brāhmaṇas individually, according to one’s means.