Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 33

Devanagari script

मया विनिर्मितं विप्रा देवागारचतुष्टयम् । एतत्क्षेत्रे च युष्माकं दयां कृत्वा ममोपरि

Transliteration

mayā vinirmitaṃ viprā devāgāracatuṣṭayam | etatkṣetre ca yuṣmākaṃ dayāṃ kṛtvā mamopari

Translation

„O Brahmanen, ich habe vier Götterhäuser, vier Heiligtümer, errichten lassen. In diesem heiligen Kṣetra erbarmt euch meiner und übernehmt die Verantwortung für sie.“

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by me)

• विनिर्मितम्: constructed
• विनिर्मितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-निर्मा (धातु) → विनिर्मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Past passive participle, neuter sg (made/constructed)

• विप्राः: O Brahmins
• विप्राः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Vocative/nom. pl used as संबोधन; Addressing Brahmins

• देवागारचतुष्टयम्: a set of four temples (houses of the gods)
• देवागारचतुष्टयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + आगार + चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Tatpuruṣa (देवानाम् आगाराणां चतुष्टयम्)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative (this)

• क्षेत्रे: in the sacred place
• क्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular (in the sacred place/field)

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

• युष्माकम्: of you
• युष्माकम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural (of you)

• दयाम्: compassion
• दयाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (compassion)

• कृत्वा: having shown/done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वान्त-अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); Absolutive (having done)

• मम: of me
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular (of me)

• उपरि: upon (me)
• उपरि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय; adverb/postposition (upon/towards/over)

Speaker

Bhīṣma

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A Kuru king/donor stands in a sacred precinct, gesturing toward four newly built devāgāras; brāhmaṇas listen as he requests compassion and custodianship; the shrines appear freshly plastered with flags, lamps, and garlands.

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Brāhmaṇas
• Devāgāra (temples)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Merit is completed not only by constructing sacred shrines but by ensuring their ongoing care through responsible custodianship.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A kṣetra (sacred field) within Nāgarakhaṇḍa’s Tīrthamāhātmya; the verse emphasizes temple-building in that kṣetra.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Temple construction (devāgāra-nirmāṇa) and the implied duty of regular worship and upkeep through appointed caretakers.