Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

येन पूर्वं तपस्तप्त्वा क्षेत्रेऽत्रैव महात्मना । त्रिनेत्रस्तुष्टिमानीतो गतपक्षेण धीमता

Transliteration

yena pūrvaṃ tapastaptvā kṣetre'traiva mahātmanā | trinetrastuṣṭimānīto gatapakṣeṇa dhīmatā

Translation

Here, in this very sacred field, that wise and great-souled one—though bereft of his wings—performed tapas as before, and thereby brought the Three-eyed Lord (Śiva) to satisfaction.

Word by Word

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• पूर्वम्: formerly/previously
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तप्त्वा: having performed austerity
• तप्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• क्षेत्रे: in the sacred place/field
• क्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• महात्मना: by the great-souled one
• महात्मना: Karana (Instrument/Agentive-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् आत्मा यस्य)

• त्रिनेत्रः: the three-eyed one (Śiva)
• त्रिनेत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि नेत्राणि यस्य)

• तुष्टिम्: satisfaction/pleasure
• तुष्टिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आनीतः: was brought/was made to (feel)
• आनीतः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + नी (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकालिक-कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थ

• गतपक्षेण: by the one whose wings were gone
• गतपक्षेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (गतः पक्षः यस्य)

• धीमता: by the wise one
• धीमता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narrative context (Sūta continuing the māhātmya narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Wingless Garuḍa, austere and radiant, stands or sits in penance within a sacred grove/riverbank; above, the Three-eyed Śiva appears, pleased, with a gentle boon-bestowing gesture.

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Trinetra)
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Austerity performed in a sacred kṣetra, with humility amid loss, can draw the direct grace of Śiva.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse praises ‘this very kṣetra’ within the Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya (the chapter’s featured sacred locale), emphasizing the place’s power to grant Śiva’s satisfaction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Tapas (austerity) is highlighted; no specific snāna/dāna/japa is explicitly stated in this verse.