Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

आदेशो दीयतां शीघ्रं यदर्थमिह चागतः । अपि प्राणप्रदानेन करिष्यामः प्रियं तव

Transliteration

ādeśo dīyatāṃ śīghraṃ yadarthamiha cāgataḥ | api prāṇapradānena kariṣyāmaḥ priyaṃ tava

Translation

„Gib rasch deinen Befehl und sage, zu welchem Zweck du hierher gekommen bist. Selbst um den Preis unseres Lebens werden wir tun, was dir lieb ist.“

Word by Word

• आदेशः: command, instruction
• आदेशः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दीयताम्: let it be given
• दीयताम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• यदर्थम्: for what purpose
• यदर्थम्: Hetu (Purpose/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासवत् प्रयोग; अव्यय (सम्बन्धसूचक/adverbial: 'for which purpose')

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक/adverb of place)

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

• आगतः: (he) has come
• आगतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्यय: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे 'आगतः' = 'has come'

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (सम्भावना/also/even)

• प्राणप्रदानेन: by giving (our) life; even at the cost of life
• प्राणप्रदानेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• करिष्यामः: we will do
• करिष्यामः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्रियम्: what is pleasing
• प्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तव: of you, your
• तव: Sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Vālakhilya sages (addressing Dakṣa, inferred from immediate context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of ascetics, hands folded, urgently requesting instruction from a dignified elder (Dakṣa), with sacrificial implements nearby suggesting a rite in progress.

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣa (Prajāpati)
• Vālakhilya sages

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True service in dharma is marked by readiness to sacrifice personal interest—even life—while seeking clear, rightful instruction.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No explicit tīrtha is named; the verse contributes to the Tīrthamāhātmya narrative that frames the sacred setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No specific ritual is prescribed; the verse expresses total commitment (prāṇapradāna) to fulfill the visitor’s purpose.