Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

अथ तन्निश्चलं दृष्ट्वा पुष्पकं गगनांगणे । रामो वायुसुतस्येदं वचनं प्राह विस्मयात्

Transliteration

atha tanniścalaṃ dṛṣṭvā puṣpakaṃ gaganāṃgaṇe | rāmo vāyusutasyedaṃ vacanaṃ prāha vismayāt

Translation

Alors, voyant le Puṣpaka immobile dans l’immensité du ciel, Rāma, saisi d’émerveillement, adressa ces paroles au fils de Vāyu (Hanumān).

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/adverb), अनन्तरार्थक

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; पुष्पकम्/विमानम् इति विशेषण

• niścalam: motionless
• niścalam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niścala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Sambandha (Prior action/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• puṣpakam: Puṣpaka (vehicle)
• puṣpakam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object of dṛṣṭvā)

• gaganāṃgaṇe: in the courtyard of the sky (in midair)
• gaganāṃgaṇe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gagana-aṃgaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; गगन + आङ्गण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• rāmaḥ: Rāma
• rāmaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता

• vāyusutasyā: to the son of Vāyu (Hanumān)
• vāyusutasyā: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu-suta (प्रातिपदिक; वायु + सुत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (addressed person’s relation)

• idam: this
• idam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; वचनम् इति विशेषण

• vacanam: words, statement
• vacanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• prāha: said
• prāha: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु; √ah/√brū sense)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vismayāt: out of astonishment
• vismayāt: Apadana (Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vismaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ अपादान (cause)

Speaker

Sūta

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Brāhmaṇas/ṛṣis

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Inside or beside the hovering Puṣpaka, Rāma looks outward in amazement and addresses Hanumān, who stands ready, hands folded, awaiting command.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Hanumān (Vāyusuta)
• Puṣpaka Vimāna
• Vāyu

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A dhārmic leader responds to mystery with inquiry and humility, seeking the cause behind sacred signs rather than ignoring them.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The narrative is moving toward the glorification of Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra, indicated by the Puṣpaka’s halt.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; this verse frames the investigative turn that reveals the kṣetra’s sanctity.