Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 10

Devanagari script

पुत्रवल्लालिता लोकाः शत्रवश्च निषूदिताः । भ्रांतानि भूतले यानि तीर्थान्यायतनानि च । तपस्विभ्यो यथाकामं यच्छता वांछितं धनम्

Transliteration

putravallālitā lokāḥ śatravaśca niṣūditāḥ | bhrāṃtāni bhūtale yāni tīrthānyāyatanāni ca | tapasvibhyo yathākāmaṃ yacchatā vāṃchitaṃ dhanam

Translation

He cared for his subjects like his own children, and his enemies were subdued. He also journeyed to the tīrthas and holy shrines spread across the earth, and granted ascetics whatever wealth they desired, according to their wish.

Word by Word

• पुत्रवत्: like (one’s) son
• पुत्रवत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुत्रवत् (प्रातिपदिक; -वत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: उपमान-अव्यय (adverbial ‘like a son’)

• लालिताः: cherished/caressed
• लालिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √लल्/लाल् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → लालित (past passive participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (लोकाः)

• लोकाः: people
• लोकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1), बहुवचन

• शत्रवः: enemies
• शत्रवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1), बहुवचन

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

• निषूदिताः: destroyed/slain
• निषूदिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√सूद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → निषूदित (past passive participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (शत्रवः)

• भ्रान्तानि: wandered/roamed
• भ्रान्तानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √भ्रम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → भ्रान्त (past passive participle)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1/2), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (यानि… तीर्थानि… आयतनानि)

• भूतले: on the earth/ground
• भूतले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location)

• यानि: which
• यानि: Sambandha (Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1/2), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-यत् (relative pronoun)

• तीर्थानि: pilgrimage places
• तीर्थानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1/2), बहुवचन

• आयतनानि: abodes/shrines
• आयतनानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1/2), बहुवचन

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

• तपस्विभ्यः: to the ascetics
• तपस्विभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया/चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (3/4/5), बहुवचन; सम्प्रदान (to ascetics)

• यथाकामम्: as desired/at will
• यथाकामम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + काम (अव्ययीभाव-समास)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• यच्छता: by (one) giving
• यच्छता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √यम् (धातु; ‘to give’) + शतृ (कृदन्त) → यच्छत् (present active participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (3), एकवचन; कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (instrumental of agent: ‘by (one) giving’)

• वाञ्छितम्: desired
• वाञ्छितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वाञ्छ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → वाञ्छित (past passive participle)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (धनम्)

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2), एकवचन; कर्म (given thing)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A king on pilgrimage: processions moving between riverside fords and temple shrines; he offers gifts to ascetics; parallel vignette shows benevolent care of subjects and victory over enemies.

Characters & Entities

• pilgrimage sites (tīrthāni)
• shrines (āyatanāni)
• ascetics (tapasvin)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Ideal kingship is dharmic care for subjects, restraint of aggression, reverence for sacred places, and support of renunciants.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse praises tīrtha-yātrā in general—visiting tīrthas and āyatanas across the land—rather than naming a single location.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pilgrimage to tīrthas and sanctuaries, and giving desired support (dāna) to tapasvins.