Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 12

Devanagari script

अमृतार्थं पुरा देवैर्मथितः कलशोदधिः । मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा नेत्रं कृत्वा तु वासुकिम्

Transliteration

amṛtārthaṃ purā devairmathitaḥ kalaśodadhiḥ | manthānaṃ mandaraṃ kṛtvā netraṃ kṛtvā tu vāsukim

Translation

Autrefois, pour obtenir l’amṛta, les dieux barattèrent l’Océan du Kalasha, prenant le mont Mandara pour bâton de barattage et Vāsuki pour corde.

Word by Word

• अमृतार्थम्: for the sake of nectar
• अमृतार्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; अमृतस्य अर्थः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (purpose)

• पुरा: formerly, in ancient times
• पुरा: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• देवैः: by the gods
• देवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• मथितः: was churned
• मथितः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘मथितः’ = ‘was churned’

• कलशोदधिः: the ocean (like a pot), i.e., the ocean
• कलशोदधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलश + उदधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (कलशः इव उदधिः)

• मन्थानम्: the churning-rod
• मन्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• मन्दरम्: Mandara (mountain)
• मन्दरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (having done)

• नेत्रम्: the rope (lit. leader/guide)
• नेत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वय-समुच्चयार्थ

• वासुकिम्: Vāsuki (the serpent)
• वासुकिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुकि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Viśvāmitra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Devas begin churning the ocean for nectar: Mandara as the churning staff, Vāsuki as the rope, the ocean heaving with foam and emerging wonders.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Devas
• Kalaśodadhi (Ocean)
• Mandara
• Vāsuki
• Amṛta

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Purāṇas ground later rules and meanings in cosmic events, linking everyday practice to sacred mythic history.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The immediate verse pivots to Samudra-manthana; the chapter context remains Śaṃkhatīrtha-māhātmya.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None here; it introduces the mythic background that will explain the stated doṣa and proper conduct.