Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 55

Devanagari script

दीर्घायुर्भव तैरुक्तः सर्वैरेव द्विजोत्तमैः । दृष्ट्वा मां विस्मयाविष्टैर्बालकं व्रतिनं विभो

Transliteration

dīrghāyurbhava tairuktaḥ sarvaireva dvijottamaiḥ | dṛṣṭvā māṃ vismayāviṣṭairbālakaṃ vratinaṃ vibho

Translation

All those best of twice-born said to me, “Be long-lived.” Seeing me—a mere boy, yet a vowed ascetic—they were filled with wonder, O revered one.

Word by Word

• दीर्घायुः: long-lived
• दीर्घायुः: Sambodhana/Predicate (Address/Complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः ‘दीर्घं आयुः यस्य’

• भव: be
• भव: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karana/Agent (by them)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• उक्तः: was said/spoken
• उक्तः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + उक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मणि—‘was said’

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karana/Agent (by all)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• द्विजोत्तमैः: by the best of the twice-born
• द्विजोत्तमैः: Karana/Agent (by the best Brahmins)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘द्विजानाम् उत्तमाः’

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having done)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• विस्मयाविष्टैः: by those seized with astonishment
• विस्मयाविष्टैः: Karana/Agent (by those astonished)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक) + आविष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः ‘विस्मयेन आविष्टाः’

• बालकम्: a boy
• बालकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• व्रतिनम्: a vow-observer/ascetic
• व्रतिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• विभो: O lord
• विभो: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Mārkaṇḍeya

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: his father

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A circle of venerable sages gaze in astonishment at a young ascetic Mārkaṇḍeya; their hands raised in blessing as they utter 'dīrghāyur bhava', while the boy stands composed, holding a kamaṇḍalu, wearing matted hair and simple ascetic garb.

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• dvijottamas (eminent Brahmins/sages)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Vrata and disciplined conduct can shine even in youth, drawing blessings and reverence from the wise.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Not explicitly named in this verse; it supports the larger tīrtha-māhātmya narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

A blessing formula is cited (“dīrghāyur bhava”), and the ideal of vrata-observance is highlighted.