Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

अध्वर्युणा समादिष्टान्प्रैषान्प्रोचुर्यथा क्रमम् । होमार्थं दीप्तवह्नौ च ऋत्विग्भिः सुसमाहितैः

Transliteration

adhvaryuṇā samādiṣṭānpraiṣānprocuryathā kramam | homārthaṃ dīptavahnau ca ṛtvigbhiḥ susamāhitaiḥ

Translation

Selon les directives de l’Adhvaryu, les appels rituels (praiṣa) furent proclamés dans l’ordre prescrit ; et pour l’offrande, les prêtres, parfaitement recueillis, accomplirent le homa dans le feu flamboyant.

Word by Word

• अध्वर्युणा: by the Adhvaryu (priest)
• अध्वर्युणा: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वर्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ-निर्देश (by the Adhvaryu priest)

• समादिष्टान्: commanded; instructed
• समादिष्टान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+आ+दिश् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त; PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (प्रैषान्)

• प्रैषान्: injunctions; ritual directions (praiṣa)
• प्रैषान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रैष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; कर्म

• प्रोचुः: they proclaimed; recited
• प्रोचुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• यथा: as; according to
• यथा: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• क्रमम्: in order; sequence
• क्रमम्: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण (accusative of manner)

• होमार्थम्: for the oblation (homa)
• होमार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (purpose-accusative)

• दीप्तवह्नौ: in the blazing fire
• दीप्तवह्नौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप्त-वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरणे

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• ऋत्विग्भिः: by the priests
• ऋत्विग्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण/सहकारि

• सुसमाहितैः: well-composed; fully attentive
• सुसमाहितैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु+सम्+आ+धा (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त; PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (ऋत्विग्भिः)

Speaker

Sūta

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya sages (frame)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A central yajña-kuṇḍa with tall flames; Adhvaryu signals; priests chant and pour offerings in sequence; smoke rises in spirals; ritual implements (sruc, sruva, ajya) gleam.

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Adhvaryu
• praiṣa
• homa
• agni
• ṛtvij

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Order, attentiveness, and obedience to sacred injunctions transform action into yajña—an offering that uplifts both place and performer.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The tīrtha context frames the rite, but this verse focuses on yajña mechanics (praiṣa and homa) rather than a named location.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Praiṣa (formal ritual calls) uttered in sequence under the Adhvaryu, followed by homa into the kindled fire.