Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः । दुःशीलेन पुराऽकारि प्रासादो हरसंभवः । दुर्वासःस्थापितस्यापि भवद्भिस्तुष्ट मानसैः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ | duḥśīlena purā'kāri prāsādo harasaṃbhavaḥ | durvāsaḥsthāpitasyāpi bhavadbhistuṣṭa mānasaiḥ

Translation

Les brāhmanes dirent : «Autrefois, un sanctuaire lié à Hara (Śiva) fut bâti par un homme de mauvaise conduite. Et pourtant, même à l’égard de ce qui fut installé par Durvāsas, vos esprits se sont réjouis en signe d’assentiment.»

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇāḥ: the Brahmins
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ūcuḥ: said
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• duḥśīlena: by the ill-natured one
• duḥśīlena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥśīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• akāri: was made
• akāri: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• prāsādaḥ: a temple/palace
• prāsādaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāsāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• hara-saṃbhavaḥ: originating from Hara (Śiva)
• hara-saṃbhavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive-determinative: 'of Hara'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) prāsādaḥ

• durvāsāḥ-sthāpitasya: of (that) which was installed by Durvāsas
• durvāsāḥ-sthāpitasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durvāsas (प्रातिपदिक) + sthāpita (कृदन्त; √sthā/स्थाप्)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive: 'by Durvāsas'), भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) prāsādasya (understood)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• bhavadbhiḥ: by you (honored ones)
• bhavadbhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural), आदरार्थ-प्रयोग (honorific 'you')

• tuṣṭa: pleased
• tuṣṭa: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tuṣṭa (कृदन्त; √tuṣ/तुष्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) (implicit subject)

• mānasaiḥ: with minds/with hearts
• mānasaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Brāhmaṇas

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A council of brāhmaṇas speaks, pointing to an older Śaiva temple built by a morally fallen man; they recall Durvāsas’ installation and express surprised approval.

Characters & Entities

• Hara (Śiva)
• Durvāsas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

A sacred installation can retain sanctity and inspire reverence even if its human circumstances were imperfect.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A Hara-connected shrine within the Nāgara Khaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya setting; the verse does not name the site explicitly.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No direct prescription; it references prior sthāpanā (installation) associated with the sage Durvāsas.