Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

पितृवाक्यरताः श्रेष्ठाः स्वधर्माचारशोभनाः । पित्रोः शुश्रूषणादन्यन्नाभिनंदंति किंचन

Transliteration

pitṛvākyaratāḥ śreṣṭhāḥ svadharmācāraśobhanāḥ | pitroḥ śuśrūṣaṇādanyannābhinaṃdaṃti kiṃcana

Translation

Sie waren vortrefflich: Sie erfreuten sich an den Worten des Vaters und waren geschmückt durch das Verhalten gemäß ihrer eigenen Dharma. Außer dem Dienst an den Eltern fanden sie an nichts anderem Gefallen.

Word by Word

• पितृवाक्यरताः: devoted to their father's words
• पितृवाक्यरताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त, √रम् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पितुः वाक्ये रताः)

• श्रेष्ठाः: excellent, best
• श्रेष्ठाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• स्वधर्माचारशोभनाः: adorned by conduct in their own dharma
• स्वधर्माचारशोभनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्वधर्मस्य आचारः तेन शोभनाः)

• पित्रोः: of (their) parents (father and mother)
• पित्रोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन

• शुश्रूषणात्: than service/obedient attendance
• शुश्रूषणात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषण (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रु धातु से)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• अभिनन्दन्ति: they approve/accept with delight
• अभिनन्दन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नन्द् (धातु) उपसर्गः अभि
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• किंचन: anything at all
• किंचन: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंचन (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-निपात)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Nāgara-khaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The sons listening attentively to their father’s counsel; behind them, symbols of temptation (luxury, entertainment) are present but ignored, emphasizing exclusive delight in service.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True excellence is measured by steadfast duty—especially honoring and serving one’s parents—rather than chasing pleasures.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No location is specified in this verse; it reinforces dharma as the inner qualification for benefiting from sacred places.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Not a ritual; it emphasizes continuous service (śuśrūṣā) and obedience (pitṛvākya).