Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

स्थिते तत्रोमया सार्धं स्वेच्छया कृत्तिवाससि । आगत्य नंदी विज्ञप्तिं चक्रे प्रणतिपूर्वकम्

Transliteration

sthite tatromayā sārdhaṃ svecchayā kṛttivāsasi | āgatya naṃdī vijñaptiṃ cakre praṇatipūrvakam

Translation

Tandis qu’Il demeurait là avec Umā, de son plein gré, à Kṛttivāsa, Nandī vint et, après s’être prosterné, formula une requête respectueuse.

Word by Word

• स्थिते: when (he was) situated
• स्थिते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) — 'being situated'

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable); स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• उमया: with Umā
• उमया: Sahakaraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: Sahakaraka (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (meaning 'together with')

• स्वेच्छया: by (his) own will
• स्वेच्छया: Hetu/Instrument (Cause/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वेच्छा (प्रातिपदिक) = स्व + इच्छा
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य इच्छा)

• कृत्तिवाससि: in/at Kṛttivāsa (Śiva)
• कृत्तिवाससि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्ति-वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कृत्तिः वासः यस्य/कृत्त्या वासः) — epithet of Śiva

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) → आगत्य
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) — 'having come'

• नन्दी: Nandī
• नन्दी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त प्रातिपदिक

• विज्ञप्तिम्: a request/statement
• विज्ञप्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• चक्रे: made/uttered
• चक्रे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• प्रणतिपूर्वकम्: after bowing / respectfully
• प्रणतिपूर्वकम्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रणति-पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial) — 'with prior obeisance'

Speaker

Skanda (contextual narration)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Kṛttivāsa (Kāśī)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Likely sages (e.g., Śaunaka’s circle) / pilgrims (contextual)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva in serene repose with Umā at Kṛttivāsa; Nandī approaches from the side, hands folded, head bowed, about to speak; temple ambience with lamps and bilva leaves.

Characters & Entities

• Umā
• Nandī
• Kṛttivāsa
• Śiva (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Devotional etiquette is modeled: even Nandī approaches the Lord with humility and formal reverence before speaking.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Kṛttivāsa/Rudrāvāsa locale in Kāśī, where Śiva stays with Umā.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The implied practice is praṇati—bowing/obeisance as the proper prelude to prayer and request.