Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 5

Devanagari script

वर्तयिष्यंति कृत्येषु यावच्चन्द्रार्कतारकाः । गोवर्धन त्वया चिंता कार्या चास्य समुद्भवा

Transliteration

vartayiṣyaṃti kṛtyeṣu yāvaccandrārkatārakāḥ | govardhana tvayā ciṃtā kāryā cāsya samudbhavā

Translation

They shall continue in their prescribed duties as long as the moon, the sun, and the stars endure. And you, O Govardhana, should also take care to reflect upon and uphold this institution as it arises and grows.

Word by Word

• vartayiṣyanti: will carry out / will proceed (in duties)
• vartayiṣyanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु) + ṇic (causative)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• kṛtyeṣu: in rites/duties
• kṛtyeṣu: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; अधिकरण (sphere)

• yāvat: as long as / until
• yāvat: Sambandha (Limit/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधिबोधक (until/as long as)

• candra-arka-tārakāḥ: the moon, sun, and stars
• candra-arka-tārakāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra + arka + tārakā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्ता (of ‘exist/shine’ implied)

• govardhana: O Govardhana
• govardhana: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govardhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; संबोधन

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karana (Agent/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कर्तृ-निर्देश/करण (by you)

• cintā: thought/concern
• cintā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cintā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता/विधेय-विषय

• kāryā: should be done
• kāryā: Kriya (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक; कृ-धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: कृदन्त; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be done)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• asya: of this (matter/person)
• asya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• samudbhavā: origin/arising
• samudbhavā: Karta (Predicate/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण/विधेय (arising/origin)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating an instruction addressed to Govardhana)

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis of Naimiṣāraṇya (implied)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A blessing/proclamation scene: elders address Govardhana, gesturing toward the temple and the community; above, a symbolic sky with moon, sun, and stars underscores permanence; below, people performing daily duties.

Characters & Entities

• Govardhana
• Gotras (context)
• Nāgaras (context)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Sacred traditions require enduring commitment—dharma is preserved through continuous communal duty and responsible stewardship.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra in the Nāgara Khaṇḍa’s Tīrthamāhātmya setting.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Not a specific ritual; it commands sustained performance of prescribed duties (kṛtya) and ongoing care for the institution/community.