Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन सेव्य एव जनार्दनः । विष्णोः कथा विष्णुपूजा ध्यानं विष्णोर्नतिस्तथा

Transliteration

tasmātsarvaprayatnena sevya eva janārdanaḥ | viṣṇoḥ kathā viṣṇupūjā dhyānaṃ viṣṇornatistathā

Translation

Therefore, with every effort, Janārdana alone is to be served—through discourse on Viṣṇu, worship of Viṣṇu, meditation upon Viṣṇu, and likewise by bowing to Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Cause/source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक तद्)
• Form: अव्ययीभावप्रयोगवत्; अपादानार्थे (ablatival adverb: therefore/from that)

• सर्व: with all
• सर्व: Karana (Qualifier/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (प्रयत्नेन इत्यस्य विशेषण)

• प्रयत्नेन: effort
• प्रयत्नेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन

• सेव्यः: to be served/worshipped
• सेव्यः: Karta (Predicate adjective/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सेव् (धातु) + यत् → सेव्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतव्य (gerundive); प्रथमा एकवचन पुंलिङ्ग

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• जनार्दनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन

• कथा: story/discourse
• कथा: Karta (Item in list/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• विष्णुपूजा: worship of Viṣṇu
• विष्णुपूजा: Karta (Item in list/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (Item in list/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन

• नतिः: bowing/salutation
• नतिः: Karta (Item in list/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (adverb: likewise)

Speaker

Brahmā

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A pilgrim-devotee before a Viṣṇu shrine: one group recites Viṣṇu-kathā, another offers flowers and tulasī, a yogin meditates on Viṣṇu, and all bow with folded hands; temple lamps and conch-sound implied.

Characters & Entities

• Janārdana (Viṣṇu)
• Viṣṇu-kathā
• Viṣṇu-pūjā
• Dhyāna
• Nati

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Wholehearted service to Viṣṇu is expressed through four pillars: hearing/speaking His kathā, pūjā, dhyāna, and namaskāra.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No specific tirtha is named in the verse; it offers a universal bhakti-method suitable for tīrtha pilgrimages and Cāturmāsya vows.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Engage in Viṣṇu-kathā, perform Viṣṇu-pūjā, practice meditation on Viṣṇu, and offer salutations—especially as part of vrata observance.