Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 28

Devanagari script

सोऽहं तपः करिष्यामि सांप्रतं वनमाश्रितः । न करिष्यामि भूयोऽपि राज्यं पुत्रनिवेदितम्

Transliteration

so'haṃ tapaḥ kariṣyāmi sāṃprataṃ vanamāśritaḥ | na kariṣyāmi bhūyo'pi rājyaṃ putraniveditam

Translation

Therefore, I shall now undertake austerities, taking refuge in the forest. Never again will I accept the kingdom offered by my son.

Word by Word

• सः: he; (I) that one
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• करिष्यामि: I will do
• करिष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future); परस्मैपद; उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person); एकवचन

• साम्प्रतम्: now, at present
• साम्प्रतम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साम्प्रत (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (now, at present)

• वनम्: forest
• वनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• आश्रितः: having resorted to, dwelling in
• आश्रितः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्तरि कृदन्त (past active participle sense, क्त used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; 'अहम्' इति विशेषणम्

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• करिष्यामि: I will do
• करिष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार; परस्मैपद; उत्तम-पुरुष; एकवचन

• भूयः: again
• भूयः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति/अधिक-वाचक (again)

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-भाव (even/also)

• राज्यम्: kingdom, rule
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• पुत्र-निवेदितम्: offered by (my) son
• पुत्र-निवेदितम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + निवेदित (कृदन्त from नि+विद्/वेद् with णिच्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: 'पुत्रेण निवेदितम्' = offered by the son); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; 'राज्यम्' इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Triśaṅku (contextual deduction)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A former ruler/householder turns away from a royal emblem and steps toward a forest, holding a staff and water-pot; the son offers the kingdom behind him, but the aspirant declines with calm firmness.

Characters & Entities

• Triśaṅku
• Forest (vana)
• Son (putra)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

When the highest aim becomes paramount, even rightful power is relinquished; tapas and inner discipline are presented as the chosen path.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No named tīrtha appears in this verse; it sets the narrative transition toward austerity, a common motif within pilgrimage-glorifying sections.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tapas (austerity) and forest-dwelling are indicated as the chosen discipline; no specific vrata, dāna, or snāna is detailed here.