Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

तथा चायतनान्येव संख्यया रहितानि च । अपि वर्षशतेनात्र स्नानं कर्तुं न शक्यते

Transliteration

tathā cāyatanānyeva saṃkhyayā rahitāni ca | api varṣaśatenātra snānaṃ kartuṃ na śakyate

Translation

Et de même, les sanctuaires (āyatana) d’ici sont véritablement innombrables ; même en cent ans, on ne saurait accomplir le bain sacré en tous ces lieux.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• आयतनानि: shrines/abodes
• आयतनानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• संख्यया: by number / in count
• संख्यया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• रहितानि: devoid (of)
• रहितानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘आयतनानि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘अपि’ = even/also

• वर्षशतेन: by a hundred years
• वर्षशतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष + शत (प्रातिपदिक); वर्षाणां शतम्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), ‘कर्तुं’ = to do

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• शक्यते: is possible
• शक्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Ṛṣayaḥ (continuing)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra (aggregate tīrthas)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Sūta-putra (Sauti)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A panoramic sacred landscape: countless small shrines, liṅgas, and water-steps spread across the kṣetra; pilgrims bathe at multiple tanks and ghāṭas; the sages gesture to the vastness, emphasizing ‘beyond counting.’

Characters & Entities

• Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra (implied)

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The sacred field is portrayed as immeasurably abundant—divine presence exceeds human capacity, urging humility and prioritized devotion.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Hāṭakeśvara-kṣetra as an expansive pilgrimage zone filled with innumerable shrines and bathing places.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Snāna is referenced as the key pilgrimage act, but the verse stresses the practical impossibility of completing all baths.