Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 11

Devanagari script

अमीभिर्लक्षणैर्लक्ष्यं मयोक्तं तव शूद्रज । अनेन विधिना सर्वे देवा वह्निपुरोगमाः

Transliteration

amībhirlakṣaṇairlakṣyaṃ mayoktaṃ tava śūdraja | anena vidhinā sarve devā vahnipurogamāḥ

Translation

Par ces signes, je t’ai exposé la marque juste de l’observance, ô né dans la condition de Śūdra. Par cette même procédure, tous les dieux—conduits par Agni—accomplirent la pratique.

Word by Word

• अमीभिः: by these
• अमीभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• लक्षणैः: by the marks/characteristics
• लक्षणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• लक्ष्यम्: to be recognized; identifiable
• लक्ष्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• उक्तम्: said; spoken
• उक्तम्: Kriya (Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थ (passive participle)

• तव: of you; to you
• तव: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• शूद्रज: O son of a Śūdra
• शूद्रज: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्रज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विधिना: by the method; procedure
• विधिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वह्निपुरोगमाः: with Agni in front; led by Agni
• वह्निपुरोगमाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि + पुरोगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (येषां पुरोगमः वह्निः ते) विशेषण (qualifying ‘देवाः’)

Speaker

Gālava

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: A ‘Śūdra-born’ interlocutor (śūdrajā) addressed directly

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A teacher-narrator instructs a humble listener, enumerating the ‘lakṣaṇas’ of a vow; in the background, a procession of devas led by Agni prepares for ritual observance.

Characters & Entities

• Gālava
• Agni (Vahni)
• Devas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Authentic practice is recognized by clear lakṣaṇas and a tested vidhī; even the devas uphold the same disciplined method.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The chapter context is tīrtha-māhātmya, but this closing line focuses on the rite’s authority rather than naming a particular site.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Following the stated lakṣaṇas and vidhī of the Śaiva observance, exemplified by the devas led by Agni.