Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 84

Devanagari script

पार्थिवस्येव लिंगानि दृश्यंते तव भूरिशः । न विद्मो निश्चयं तस्माद्वदागमनकारणम्

Transliteration

pārthivasyeva liṃgāni dṛśyaṃte tava bhūriśaḥ | na vidmo niścayaṃ tasmādvadāgamanakāraṇam

Translation

O mighty one, the marks of a sovereign are clearly seen upon you; yet we cannot be certain—therefore, tell us the reason for your arrival.

Word by Word

• पार्थिवस्य: of a king
• पार्थिवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Upamāna-marker (Simile/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (Particle of comparison)

• लिङ्गानि: signs/marks
• लिङ्गानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम्

• दृश्यन्ते: are seen/appear
• दृश्यन्ते: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), बहुवचनम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (Passive)

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्

• भूरिशः: O lord of abundance (O great one)
• भूरिशः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūriśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), एकवचनम्

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (Negation particle)

• विद्मः: we know
• विद्मः: Kriyā (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदम्, उत्तमपुरुषः (1st), बहुवचनम्

• निश्चयम्: certainty
• निश्चयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niścaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययप्रयोगः (Ablatival adverb: ‘therefore/from that’)

• वद: tell
• वद: Kriyā (Injunction/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd), एकवचनम्

• आगमनकारणम्: the reason for (your) coming
• आगमनकारणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āgamana (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; आगमनस्य कारणम्

Speaker

Forest-dwelling ascetics/locals addressing the king (implied by context)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A respectful spokesman addresses the dusty yet regal figure: ‘Your sovereign marks are evident; tell us why you have come.’ The group’s posture is inquisitive yet reverent.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Discernment with humility: even when something appears obvious, dharma favors careful inquiry and truthful clarification.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The surrounding tīrtha context is implied by the Tīrthamāhātmya section, but the site name is not specified in this verse alone.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a conversational verse establishing identity and intent.