Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

तवाश्रमे तपः सौम्य करिष्यामि तपोधन

Transliteration

tavāśrame tapaḥ saumya kariṣyāmi tapodhana

Translation

«Oh benigno, en tu ermita emprenderé austeridades, oh tesoro del poder ascético.»

Word by Word

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उभयलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन (pronoun, genitive singular)

• आश्रमे: in the hermitage
• आश्रमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन (masculine, locative singular)

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (neuter, accusative singular)

• सौम्य: O gentle one
• सौम्य: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन (masculine, vocative singular)

• करिष्यामि: I will do/perform
• करिष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्/साधारण-भविष्यत्), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (simple future, parasmaipada, 1st sg)

• तपोधन: O one rich in austerity
• तपोधन: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + धन (प्रातिपदिक); तपसा धनम् यस्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन (masculine, vocative singular); बहुव्रीहिः (one whose wealth is austerity)

Speaker

Unspecified (a visitor addressing an ascetic)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: The queen/pilgrim makes a vow before the ascetic, indicating willingness to stay in the hermitage and adopt austerities.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True spiritual progress begins with humility—seeking a sanctified place and guidance to perform tapas in a dharmic way.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse points generally to the sanctity of an āśrama within the Tīrthamāhātmya context; the specific tīrtha is not named in this single line.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The prescription is tapas (austerity/discipline) undertaken while residing in a sage’s hermitage.