Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 34

Devanagari script

प्रार्थयामो विशेषेण तेन दैन्यं समागताः । प्रसादः क्रियतां तस्मादाज्ञां यच्छत मा चिरम्

Transliteration

prārthayāmo viśeṣeṇa tena dainyaṃ samāgatāḥ | prasādaḥ kriyatāṃ tasmādājñāṃ yacchata mā ciram

Translation

We entreat you most earnestly; because of that matter we have fallen into distress. Therefore, bestow your favor and give the instruction—do not delay.

Word by Word

• प्रार्थयामः: we request / we entreat
• प्रार्थयामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन (plural); परस्मैपदम्

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययभावे तृतीया-एकवचनरूपम्; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial instrumental)

• तेन: therefore / by that
• तेन: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• दैन्यम्: wretchedness, misery
• दैन्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• समागताः: having come to / having reached
• समागताः: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (predicate adjective)

• प्रसादः: favor, grace
• प्रसादः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• क्रियताम्: let it be done / may it be granted
• क्रियताम्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपम्; हेत्वर्थे अव्यय (therefore)

• आज्ञाम्: command, order
• आज्ञाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• यच्छत: give, grant
• यच्छत: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मा: do not
• मा: Pratishedha (Prohibition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (prohibitive particle)

• चिरम्: for long / long time
• चिरम्: Kriya-visheshana (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Local devotees/hosts addressing the brāhmaṇas

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A group of distressed petitioners with folded hands stands before seated brāhmaṇas/elders in a temple-courtyard or assembly hall, pleading for favor and immediate instruction.

Characters & Entities

• Ājñā (authorization)
• Prasāda (favor)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Spiritual urgency should be paired with proper humility—one seeks grace and correct instruction rather than acting impulsively.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The Nāgarakhaṇḍa tīrtha setting, where rites are portrayed as effective when begun under proper authorization and blessing.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Requesting prasāda (favor) and ājñā (formal instruction/permission) from qualified brāhmaṇas before commencing the intended ritual work.