Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

तत्तत्कर्म करिष्यामि स्वर्गार्थे नृपसत्तम । तवाभीष्टं करिष्यामि किं वा यास्यामि संक्षयम्

Transliteration

tattatkarma kariṣyāmi svargārthe nṛpasattama | tavābhīṣṭaṃ kariṣyāmi kiṃ vā yāsyāmi saṃkṣayam

Translation

„Um des Himmels willen, o bester der Könige, werde ich die erforderlichen Taten vollbringen. Deinen Wunsch werde ich erfüllen — oder im Versuch zugrunde gehen.“

Word by Word

• तत्: that (each)
• तत्: Karma-visheshana (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तत्: that (very)
• तत्: Karma-visheshana (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोग (tattat = 'each and every')

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

• करिष्यामि: I will do
• करिष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्वर्गार्थे: for (the sake of) heaven
• स्वर्गार्थे: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (स्वर्गाय अर्थः) = 'for the sake of heaven'

• नृपसत्तम: O best of kings
• नृपसत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नृपाणां सत्तमः)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• अभीष्टम्: desired thing, wish
• अभीष्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभीष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• करिष्यामि: I will accomplish
• करिष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• किम्: what? why?
• किम्: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• यास्यामि: shall I go
• यास्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• संक्षयम्: to destruction, ruin
• संक्षयम्: Gati/Karma (Goal as object/गति-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Viśvāmitra

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Triśaṅku

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Viśvāmitra, eyes blazing with resolve, declares he will do whatever is needed for Triśaṅku’s heaven—staking his own life; disciples and sacrificial implements appear in the background, foreshadowing a rite.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Triśaṅku
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True commitment in dharma is total—one undertakes the needed karma with unwavering resolve, accepting personal risk for a righteous promise.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tīrtha is named; the verse emphasizes the mahātmya-style ideal of steadfast effort leading to exalted results.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It broadly indicates performing the necessary karmas/rites for attaining Svarga, without naming a particular yajña or vrata in this line.