Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

वेदोक्तं कारयेत्कर्म पूर्तेष्टं वेदतत्परः । पंचायतनपूजा च सत्यवादो ह्यलोलता

Transliteration

vedoktaṃ kārayetkarma pūrteṣṭaṃ vedatatparaḥ | paṃcāyatanapūjā ca satyavādo hyalolatā

Translation

Wer dem Veda hingegeben ist, soll die vom Veda gebotenen Handlungen vollziehen—sowohl die iṣṭa- als auch die pūrta-Werke—und dazu die Pañcāyatana-Verehrung, Wahrhaftigkeit und standhafte Unwankelbarkeit pflegen.

Word by Word

• वेदोक्तम्: Veda-prescribed
• वेदोक्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + उक्त (√वच् धातु + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (veda-ukta = prescribed in the Veda)

• कारयेत्: should cause to be done / should have performed
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + णिच् (causative) → कारय (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); णिजन्त (causative)

• कर्म: ritual act; duty
• कर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पूर्तेष्टम्: pūrta and iṣṭa rites (charitable works and sacrifices)
• पूर्तेष्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्त + इष्ट (√यज् धातु + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); द्वन्द्व-समास (pūrta-iṣṭa = pūrta works and iṣṭa sacrifices)

• वेदतत्परः: one devoted to the Veda
• वेदतत्परः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (veda-tatpara = devoted to the Veda)

• पंचायतनपूजा: pañcāyatana worship
• पंचायतनपूजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + आयतन + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (pañcāyatana-pūjā = worship of the five shrines/deities)

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

• सत्यवादः: truthfulness
• सत्यवादः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य + वाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (satya-vāda = truth-speaking)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अलोलता: steadiness; non-restlessness
• अलोलता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + लोलता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); नञ्-समास/निषेधपूर्वक (a-lolatā = absence of fickleness)

Speaker

Gālava (continuing dharma instruction)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Mahāśūdra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A disciplined householder performs pañcāyatana worship before five small shrines, while also giving charity for public works; the scene emphasizes truthfulness and steady mind through calm posture and orderly ritual implements.

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• iṣṭa
• pūrta
• pañcāyatana-pūjā
• satya

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True religiosity combines Vedic duty, worship, ethical truthfulness, and inner steadiness—integrating ritual and character.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific site is named; the verse provides general dharma practice within the chapter’s sacred narrative frame.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform Veda-prescribed rites, iṣṭa–pūrta works, and pañcāyatana-pūjā; cultivate satya-vāda and alolatā.