Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 31

Devanagari script

वरुणस्य प्रतुष्ट्यर्थं स्नानं कार्यं त्वयैव च । ऋत्विग्भिः सहितेनैव सर्वारिष्टप्रशांतये

Transliteration

varuṇasya pratuṣṭyarthaṃ snānaṃ kāryaṃ tvayaiva ca | ṛtvigbhiḥ sahitenaiva sarvāriṣṭapraśāṃtaye

Translation

Pour la pleine satisfaction de Varuṇa, tu dois accomplir le bain, assurément—avec les prêtres officiants—afin que tout malheur soit apaisé.

Word by Word

• वरुणस्य: of Varuṇa
• वरुणस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन (Gen. sg.)

• प्रतुष्ट्यर्थम्: for (his) satisfaction
• प्रतुष्ट्यर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratuṣṭi + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg.) अर्थे (purpose); तत्पुरुषः (pratuṣṭyāḥ arthaḥ)

• स्नानम्: bath
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• कार्यम्: to be done, must be performed
• कार्यम्: Karma (Object-complement/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु) → kārya (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया एकवचन (Instr. sg.)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• ऋत्विग्भिः: with the priests
• ऋत्विग्भिः: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛtvij (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचन (Instr. pl.)

• सहितेन: accompanied (together)
• सहितेन: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (Instr. sg.); विशेषणं त्वया (with you being accompanied)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (indeed)

• सर्वारिष्टप्रशांतये: for the pacification of all misfortunes
• सर्वारिष्टप्रशांतये: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + ariṣṭa + praśānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचन (Dat. sg.); तत्पुरुषः (sarvāṇām ariṣṭānām praśāntiḥ)

Speaker

Pulastya

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: ghat

Visual Art Cues

Scene: At the water’s edge, the yajamāna bathes while priests stand nearby chanting; Varuṇa is envisioned above the waters—serene, regal—bestowing protection; the scene conveys relief and pacification.

Characters & Entities

• Varuṇa
• Snāna
• Ṛtvij (priests)
• Ariṣṭa (misfortune)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purificatory bathing in a sacred rite is not merely symbolic; it is a dharmic act aimed at divine satisfaction and the removal of obstacles.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

A consecrated bathing-place connected to the Vāruṇī/avabhṛtha rite is implied; the verse emphasizes the tīrtha-function of water for śānti.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Snāna (ritual bath) with ṛtviks, specifically for pleasing Varuṇa and pacifying all ariṣṭas.