Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 52

Devanagari script

सेतुमारब्धवान्विप्रा यावल्लंकामतंद्रितः । सिंहासनं समारुह्य रामो नलकृतं शुभम्

Transliteration

setumārabdhavānviprā yāvallaṃkāmataṃdritaḥ | siṃhāsanaṃ samāruhya rāmo nalakṛtaṃ śubham

Translation

Ô brāhmanes, sans relâche il entreprit la construction du pont jusqu’à Laṅkā. Rāma monta sur le trône de bon augure façonné par Nala.

Word by Word

• setum: the bridge
• setum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: setu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• ārabdhavān: having begun (it)
• ārabdhavān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-rabh (धातु) + -vat (कृत्/प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृत् (कर्तरि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; ‘having begun/undertaken’

• viprāḥ: the brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• yāvat: until / as far as
• yāvat: Adhikaraṇa (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-बोधक (until/as far as)

• laṅkām: Laṅkā
• laṅkām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• atandritaḥ: untiring / unwearied
• atandritaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-tandrita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-प्रत्यय (negation)

• siṃhāsanam: the throne
• siṃhāsanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘lion-seat’ = throne)

• samāruhya: having mounted
• samāruhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-ā-ruh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• rāmaḥ: Rāma
• rāmaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nalakṛtam: made by Nala
• nalakṛtam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nala + kṛta (कृ धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘made by Nala’)

• śubham: auspicious
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta (Lomaharṣaṇa) narrating (deduced)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Setubandha (Rāmasetu)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Brāhmaṇas/ṛṣis (addressed as ‘viprāḥ’)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Rāma, resolute, seated upon an auspicious throne crafted by Nala, overseeing the commencement of the Setu toward Laṅkā; vānaras bustle in the background with materials and banners; ocean horizon glows.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Laṅkā
• Nala
• Setu
• Vipras (Brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Tireless effort dedicated to a righteous cause becomes sacred service when aligned with dharma.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Setubandha/Setu in the Setukhaṇḍa narrative, extending toward Laṅkā.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; the verse describes the commencement and organization of the sacred construction.