Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

तस्मात्कृत्वा प्रसादं नो दयां च द्विजसत्तमाः । आज्ञापयत शीघ्रं हि येन कर्म प्रवर्तते

Transliteration

tasmātkṛtvā prasādaṃ no dayāṃ ca dvijasattamāḥ | ājñāpayata śīghraṃ hi yena karma pravartate

Translation

Darum, o Beste der Zweimalgeborenen, erweist uns Gunst und Erbarmen; gebt rasch die Weisung, damit das heilige Werk beginnen kann.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Reason/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचन रूपेण अव्ययवत्; हेत्वर्थ (therefore/from that reason)

• कृत्वा: having shown/done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having done/made)

• प्रसादम्: favor, grace
• प्रसादम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (masc. acc. sg.)

• नः: to us/for us
• नः: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी विभक्ति; बहुवचन (gen./dat. pl. enclitic)

• दयाम्: compassion
• दयाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (fem. acc. sg.)

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

• द्विज-सत्तमाः: O best of the twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विज-सत्तमाः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन (masc. nom. pl.); सम्बोधनार्थे प्रयुक्तम् (used in address: O best of Brahmins)

• आज्ञापयत: command, instruct
• आज्ञापयत: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√ज्ञा (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (imperative; 2nd pl.)

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् (accusative used adverbially); काल/वेगवाचक (quickly)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतु-प्रदर्शक (indeed/for)

• येन: by which, so that
• येन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (neut. instr. sg.); साधनार्थ (by which/so that)

• कर्म: the rite/work
• कर्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (neut. nom. sg.)

• प्रवर्तते: proceeds, begins
• प्रवर्तते: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (present; 3rd sg.; ‘proceeds/commences’)

Speaker

Local devotees/hosts addressing officiating brāhmaṇas

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Camatkārapura

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Royal patrons bow before senior brāhmaṇas, palms joined, requesting compassion and immediate instruction; a ritual platform is being prepared nearby, awaiting the priestly command.

Characters & Entities

• Dvija (brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ritual power is aligned with humility and proper guidance—one should seek competent instruction so dharmic acts proceed correctly.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Nāgarakhaṇḍa tīrtha setting, where correct initiation of rites is emphasized as part of the site’s sacred order.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Seeking ājñā/instruction from qualified brāhmaṇas to formally begin the intended religious rite.