Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 40

Devanagari script

मुमूर्षूणां मोक्षरूपो धरासंस्थो महाद्रुमः । अस्मिन्वसंति सततं ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाः सदा

Transliteration

mumūrṣūṇāṃ mokṣarūpo dharāsaṃstho mahādrumaḥ | asminvasaṃti satataṃ brahmaviṣṇuśivāḥ sadā

Translation

Für die dem Tod Nahen ist dieser große Baum, in der Erde verwurzelt, die Gestalt der Befreiung (mokṣa) selbst. In ihm wohnen Brahmā, Viṣṇu und Śiva unablässig, immerdar.

Word by Word

• मुमूर्षूणाम्: of those who are about to die
• मुमूर्षूणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुमूर्षु (प्रातिपदिक; √मृ + उषु-प्रत्यय, desiderative sense)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मोक्षरूपः: having the form of liberation
• मोक्षरूपः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोक्ष + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मोक्षस्य रूपः)

• धरासंस्थः: standing on the earth
• धरासंस्थः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धरा + संस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (धरायां संस्थः = situated on earth)

• महाद्रुमः: the great tree
• महाद्रुमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् द्रुमः)

• अस्मिन्: in this (tree/place)
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वसन्ति: dwell/reside
• वसन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: constantly)

• ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाः: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva
• ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + विष्णु + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवश्च)

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

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Skanda Purāṇa Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya didactic narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Mahādruma (Pippala/Aśvattha)

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A massive Aśvattha rooted firmly in earth; within its canopy appear subtle forms of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva, indicating constant indwelling; a dying devotee is brought beneath it, receiving peace.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Viṣṇu
• Śiva
• Mahādruma (sacred tree)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Reverence to the sacred tree is taught as a direct support for liberation, especially for those facing death, because it is regarded as a divine abode.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Within Nāgarakhaṇḍa’s Tīrthamāhātmya context, the glorification centers on the sacred tree itself (especially Pippala/Aśvattha) as a living tīrtha in the described holy geography.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The verse implies devotional service (sevā/upāsanā) and veneration of the sacred tree as a mokṣa-oriented practice.