Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 9

Devanagari script

पुत्रत्रयं च संजातं पितुः शुश्रूषणे रतम् । तस्य पुत्राः पितुर्भक्ता द्रव्यादिमदवर्जिताः

Transliteration

putratrayaṃ ca saṃjātaṃ pituḥ śuśrūṣaṇe ratam | tasya putrāḥ piturbhaktā dravyādimadavarjitāḥ

Translation

Trois fils naquirent, voués au service de leur père. Ces fils étaient dévoués à leur père et exempts de l’orgueil que suscitent la richesse et autres biens.

Word by Word

• पुत्रत्रयम्: a set of three sons
• पुत्रत्रयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रयः पुत्राः)

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

• संजातम्: was born
• संजातम्: Kriya (Predicative action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+जन् (धातु) → संजात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle), कर्तरि प्रयोग; 'was born/occurred'

• पितुः: of the father
• पितुः: Shashthi-sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• शुश्रूषणे: in service/attendance
• शुश्रूषणे: Adhikarana (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुश्रूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• रतम्: devoted/engaged
• रतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (पुत्रत्रयम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Possessor/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• पितुः: of the father
• पितुः: Shashthi-sambandha (Object of devotion/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• भक्ताः: devoted
• भक्ताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• द्रव्यादिमदवर्जिताः: free from pride of wealth etc.
• द्रव्यादिमदवर्जिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रव्य + आदि + मद + वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (द्रव्यादि-मदेन वर्जिताः/रहिताः); वर्जित = भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP)

Speaker

Skanda (deduced from Nāgara-khaṇḍa Tīrthamāhātmya narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Three sons standing respectfully before their father, hands folded, offering water/seat; their attire is modest despite affluence, indicating freedom from pride.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Service to parents and humility are praised as central virtues that protect prosperity from turning into spiritual downfall.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is mentioned in this verse; it highlights dharmic family culture within the māhātmya narrative.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

No formal ritual; the prescribed practice is śuśrūṣā—attentive service to one’s father.