Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 49

Devanagari script

तस्माद्द्वाभ्यां मया कार्यं क्षेत्रे सौख्यं यथा भवेत् । ब्राह्मणानां विशेषेण तथा चात्र निवासिनाम्

Transliteration

tasmāddvābhyāṃ mayā kāryaṃ kṣetre saukhyaṃ yathā bhavet | brāhmaṇānāṃ viśeṣeṇa tathā cātra nivāsinām

Translation

«C’est pourquoi, par vous deux, je dois faire en sorte que le bien-être règne en ce kṣetra sacré—tout particulièrement pour les brāhmaṇas, et aussi pour ceux qui demeurent ici.»

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/Reason marker/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति निपातवत् प्रयोगः; हेत्वर्थे (therefore/from that reason)

• द्वाभ्याम्: by/with two (persons/things)
• द्वाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (संख्याशब्द-प्रयोग), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कार्यम्: (something) to be done/duty
• कार्यम्: Karya (Obligation/कर्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (प्रत्यय) → कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligation)

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

• सौख्यम्: happiness/welfare
• सौख्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यथा: so that
• यथा: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (so that/as)

• भवेत्: may be/should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (instrumental used adverbially)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (likewise)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Desha-adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• निवासिनाम्: of the residents (living here)
• निवासिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि (उपसर्ग) + वस् (धातु) + इन् (प्रत्यय) → निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun: resident)

Speaker

Maheśvara (Śiva)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Śiva addresses two agents/figures (implied ‘the two of you’) commissioning them to establish well-being in the kṣetra; background shows orderly settlement—ghāṭa, shrine, and homes—symbolizing protected community life.

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara
• Brāhmaṇas
• Kṣetra (holy field)
• Residents of the kṣetra

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A tīrtha’s greatness includes social and spiritual welfare—protecting those who uphold rites and those who live within the sacred geography.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A particular kṣetra within the Nāgarakhaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya is implied, presented as a refuge and center of well-being (the name is not specified in this verse alone).

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct ritual is given; the instruction is administrative/spiritual—ensuring peace and prosperity in the kṣetra.