Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 4

Devanagari script

नियमो वा जपो होमः स्वाध्यायो व्रतमेव वा । कर्तव्यं ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठास्तुष्ट्यर्थं चक्रपाणिनः

Transliteration

niyamo vā japo homaḥ svādhyāyo vratameva vā | kartavyaṃ brāhmaṇaśreṣṭhāstuṣṭyarthaṃ cakrapāṇinaḥ

Translation

Whether it be discipline, japa, homa, Vedic study, or a vow—O best of brāhmaṇas—these should be practiced for the satisfaction of Cakrapāṇi, the Lord who bears the discus.

Word by Word

• नियमः: observance
• नियमः: Karta (Option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (or)

• जपः: recitation
• जपः: Karta (Option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• होमः: fire-offering
• होमः: Karta (Option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वाध्यायः: self-study (Vedic recitation)
• स्वाध्यायः: Karta (Option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य अध्यायः/स्वाध्यायः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• व्रतम्: vow
• व्रतम्: Karta (Option)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphasis)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प (or)

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः—कर्तुं योग्यं/आवश्यकम्

• ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठाः: O best of brāhmaṇas
• ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठाः: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्राह्मणानां श्रेष्ठाः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), बहुवचन

• तुष्ट्यर्थम्: for (his) satisfaction
• तुष्ट्यर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तुष्ट्याः अर्थः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the sake of satisfaction)

• चक्रपाणिनः: of the discus-bearer (Viṣṇu)
• चक्रपाणिनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चक्रं पाणौ यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: brāhmaṇas (assembled sages)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Sūta enumerates acceptable observances—niyama, japa, homa, svādhyāya, vrata—while an icon of Cakrapāṇi presides, emphasizing dedication to Viṣṇu’s satisfaction.

Characters & Entities

• Cakrapāṇi (Viṣṇu)
• Japa
• Homa
• Svādhyāya
• Vrata

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Multiple orthodox paths—discipline, chanting, offerings, study, and vows—are all valid when oriented toward pleasing Viṣṇu (Cakrapāṇi).

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The instruction is part of the Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra Māhātmya setting in Nāgara Khaṇḍa.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Perform niyama/japa/homa/svādhyāya/vrata as devotional discipline, explicitly framed as an act to satisfy Cakrapāṇi.