Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 77

Devanagari script

तया त्रैविक्रमी तत्र प्रतिमा प्राग्विनिर्मिता । पश्चान्माहेश्वरं लिंगं कृत्वा प्रासादमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

tayā traivikramī tatra pratimā prāgvinirmitā | paścānmāheśvaraṃ liṃgaṃ kṛtvā prāsādamuttamam

Translation

Par elle, fut d’abord façonnée en ce lieu l’image sacrée de Trivikrama. Ensuite, ayant établi un liṅga de Māheśvara, elle éleva un sanctuaire-temple d’une excellence suprême.

Word by Word

• तया: by her
• तया: Karana (करण/Instrument-Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• त्रैविक्रमी: (of) Trivikrama
• त्रैविक्रमी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रैविक्रमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रतिमा-विशेषण (of Trivikrama)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (there)

• प्रतिमा: an image/idol
• प्रतिमा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राक्: previously
• प्राक्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly/before)

• विनिर्मिता: was constructed
• विनिर्मिता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + निर् + मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मा (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘was constructed’

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (afterwards)

• माहेश्वरम्: Śaiva, of Maheśvara
• माहेश्वरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; लिङ्गम्-विशेषण (pertaining to Maheśvara/Śiva)

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga (Śiva emblem)
• लिङ्गम्: Karman (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive): having made

• प्रासादम्: a temple/mansion
• प्रासादम्: Karman (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रासाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रासादम्-विशेषण

Speaker

Narrator (speaker not named in this verse; likely Sūta in context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Bhaṭṭikā oversees artisans: a newly fashioned Trivikrama image stands first; nearby, a Śiva-liṅga is established, and an excellent temple rises with pillars, kalasha, and lamps—signifying the tīrtha’s transformation into a major shrine complex.

Characters & Entities

• Trivikrama (Viṣṇu)
• Māheśvara (Śiva)
• Liṅga
• Prāsāda (temple)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Creating and establishing sacred icons and temples at a tīrtha is a powerful dharmic act that magnifies the site’s sanctity and merit.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A tīrtha within Nāgarakhaṇḍa’s Tīrthamāhātmya is implied; the precise place-name is not stated in this verse.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Pratimā-nirmāṇa (making an icon), liṅga-pratiṣṭhā (establishing a liṅga), and prāsāda-nirmāṇa (building a temple).