Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

आसीत्पूर्वं द्विजो वीरशर्मनामातिविश्रुतः । वेदविद्याव्रतस्नातो वर्धमाने पुरोत्तमे

Transliteration

āsītpūrvaṃ dvijo vīraśarmanāmātiviśrutaḥ | vedavidyāvratasnāto vardhamāne purottame

Translation

Autrefois vivait un «deux-fois-né» très renommé, nommé Vīraśarman ; accompli dans le savoir védique et les observances sacrées, il demeurait dans l’excellente cité de Vardhamāna.

Word by Word

• आसीत्: there was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• द्विजः: a Brahmin (twice-born)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वीरशर्म-नाम: named Vīraśarman
• वीरशर्म-नाम: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरशर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नामधेयवाचक (having the name)

• अति-विश्रुतः: very renowned
• अति-विश्रुतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग) + विश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक; श्रु धातोः क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वेद-विद्या-व्रत-स्नातः: initiated in Vedic learning and vows
• वेद-विद्या-व्रत-स्नातः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नात (स्ना धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त-विशेषण: 'vowed/initiated in Veda-learning and vows'

• वर्धमाने: in Vardhamāna (city)
• वर्धमाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्धमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (नगरनाम), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; देशाधिकरणे (locative of place)

• पुर-उत्तमे: in the excellent city
• पुर-उत्तमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेष्य-विशेषणभावः (in the best city)

Speaker

Sūta (continuing narration)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A dignified brāhmaṇa scholar, Vīraśarman, sits in a courtyard with palm-leaf manuscripts, performing daily rites; behind him rises a prosperous cityscape—gates, temples, and bustling streets—signaling ‘purōttama’ Vardhamāna.

Characters & Entities

• Vīraśarman
• Vardhamāna (city)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Māhātmyas often anchor tīrtha-glory in lived dharma through exemplary characters and their karmic journeys.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The broader Śrīhāṭakeśvara-kṣetra cycle; this verse introduces characters tied to the Dīrghikā narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None directly; it characterizes Vīraśarman as disciplined in Vedic vows and rites.